THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


N 


ALT  HA; 


OB, 


SHELLS    FROM   THE   STRAND 


BT 


MRS.    ADA    M.    FIELD 


"There  is  a  spirit  in  man,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth 
understanding."  —  JOB,  xxxn  :  8. 


BOSTON: 
JAMES     FKENCH    AND    COMPANY. 

1856. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1856,  by 
JAMES  FRENCH  AND  COMPANY, 

in  the    Clerk's   Office  of   the  District  Court  of  the  District  of 
Massachusetts. 


Stereotyped  at  the 

UNITED    STATES    FOUNDRY, 
41    Congress    Street,     Boston. 
.  C.  HOBHS,  PROPRIETOR. 


TO   THE 

ESTEEMED     FRIENDS 

AND 

RESPECTED    CITIZENS, 

WHO    GENEROUSLY   ENCOURAGED   ME 

TO    PUBLISH    THE    MANUSCRIPT 

THIS   BOOK   IS 

GRATEFULLY    DEDICATED. 


1 670555 


INTRODUCTION. 

WHY  have  I  ventured  to  launch  my  frail  hark 
among  so  many  nohle-freighted  and  gallant  ves 
sels,  upon  the  ever-changing  sea  of  puhlic  opin 
ion  ?  I  answer  —  that  I  may  place  before  you 
its  simple  freight  of  shells  —  an  offering  of  love, 
hope  and  duty;  —  love  for  the  noble  hearts, 
unchanged  by  Time's  stern  teachings ;  hope  that 
it  may  strengthen  some  faint  heart  yearning  for 
the  good,  yet  lingering  by  the  way-side;  and 
duty,  that  whispers  in  spirit-voices,  on,  on,  ever 
on,  toward  the  right,  where  shines  the  Eastern 
Star,  emblem  of  God's  light  and  love  ! 

I  have  gleaned  them,  journeying  in  storm  and 
sunshine,  —  pictures  of  home  life ;  they  were 
mine  ;  they  are  yours. 


ALT  HA; 


OR, 
SHELLS    FROM   THE   STRAND 


CHAPTEK   I. 

"  A  glorious  day.  And  the  good  people  of  this  Tri- 
mountain  City  seem  fully  to  appreciate  its  charms," 
soliloquized  Halvor  Hazel,  while  standing  within  the 
doorway  of  the  American  House,  glancing  along  the 
pave  at  the  throng  of  pedestrians  constantly  passing  in 
every  direction. 

"  Many  a  countenance  seems  familiar,  yet  I  cannot 
claim  acquaintance  with  any." 

"  Truly  a  stranger  in  a  great  city,  is  in  the  midst  of 
solitude,  and  feels  what  it  is  to  he  alone.  It  seems  hut 
a  short  time  since  I  left  my  home  to  try  my  fortune 
in  distant  lands,  yet  I  find  many  changes,  even  in  this 
great  city." 


4  ALTHA. 

"  Life's  scenes  are  change,  changing  ever.  Ah  well ! 
I  will  take  a  stroll  hoping  to  find  as  much  as  a  shadow 
of  some  old  friend  remaining." 

And  he  proceeded  along  the  street  with  the  easy  care- 
for-nothing  air  of  the  perfect  man  of  leisure.  He  quick 
ened  his  steps  as  he  reached  Court  Street,  occasionally 
glancing  at  the  numerous  signs  he  passed,  until  his  at 
tention  was  arrested  by  a  long  list  of  names,  posted  he- 
side  a  shady  entrance,  the  ponderous  door  of  which  stood 
invitingly  open.  He  commenced  ascending  several  flight 
of  stairs,  musing  as  he  went. 

"  What  a  cavernous  looking  entrance,  how  mysteriously 
dark.  I  wonder  how  many  tortured,  anguished  heads 
and  hearts  have  passed  up  and  down  these  gloomy 
steps." 

He  reached  a  half  glass  door,  standing  slightly  ajar, 
on  which  was  portrayed  in  large  black  letters,  Ethan 
Eldridge,  Attorney  and  Counsellor  at  Law,  and  quietly 
entered  without  ceremony. 

The  occupant  of  the  room  was  leaning  back  in  his 
chair,  his  arms  suspended  by  a  thumb  caught  in  each 
arm-hole-  of  his  vest,  his  well  shaped  limbs  crossed,  and 
resting  on  the  top  of  an  opposite  chair,  in  which  comfort 
able  position  he  seemed  wholly  lost  in  reverie  profound, 


ALTHA.  O 

or  given  up  to  the  study  of  some  perspective  speculation. 
So  intent  were  his  thoughts  upon  his  subject,  that  his 
visitor  stood  several  seconds  coolly  surveying  the  interior 
of  the  apartment.  Seeing  the  gentleman  little  likely  to 
he  disturbed  hy  his  presence,  he  walked  holdly  forward, 
exclaiming, 

"  Ha !  ha !  'Squire,  turned  visionary,  and  dreaming  hy 
sunlight?" 

Instanter  the  *]person  addressed  was  upon  his  feet,  re 
garding  the  new  comer  whom  he  quickly  grasped,  and 
shook  cordially  hy  the  hand. 

"  <  Shade  of  the  Styx !'  "  My  dear  fellow,  where  did 
you  come  from  ?  Ah !  my  boy,"  laying  his  hand  affec 
tionately  on  his  shoulder,  "  were  you  thinking  of  the 
possibility  of  '  Charon'  bringing  hack  to  this  shore  of 
mortality,  some  restless  spirit  of  a  former  client,  that 
you  seem  so  surprised  at  seeing  me  ?" 

"  Oh  no,  hy  no  means,  have  no  fear  upon  that  score ; 
hut  I'm  delighted  to  see  you.  "Welcome,  thrice  welcome 
home,  my  dear  friend.  When  did  you  arrive  ?  Put  up 
at  the  Tremont,  of  course,  and  are  going  to  stop  with  us 
now,  are  you  not  ?" 

With  a  bland  smile  at  the  squire's  habit  of  premising 
one's  thoughts  and  actions.  Halvor  quietly  answered. 


6  ALT  HA. 

"  I  arrived  in  town  late  last  evening,  stopped  at  the 
American,  (by  the  way,  a  new  house  opened  since  I  left,) 
which  I  have  heard  spoken  of  as  being  good  at  furnishing 
home  comforts,  and  quiet;  and  intend  to  stop  just  long 
enough  to  get  a  little  refreshed." 

"  But  Ethan  it  is  more  than  five  years  since  we  parted 
company,  leaving  you  to  enjoy  golden  dreams,  along 
with  the  heterogeneous  mass  of  humanity  congregated  in 
the  famous  city  of  San  Francisco,  ostensibly  poring  over 

grim  statute  books  in  the  law  office  of  Judge  L . 

Perhaps,  occasionally,  planning  a  siege  against  the 
heart  of  some  fair  Senorita  with  golden  pile  and  broad 
rancheros  in  possession.  Why  is  it  I  find  you  with  all 
your  former  ideal  glory  departed,  settled  down  in  this 
changeful  climate  a  Benedict." 

"  0  ask  me  not,  I  know  nothing." 

And  his  eye-lids  drooped  meekly.  Yet  a  close  observer 
might  see  the  smiling  light  of  that  hazel  orb  as  it  turned 
a  glance  back  upon  the  inner  cell,  where  was  hidden  the 
precious  secret. 

"  Ethan  this  is  hardly  fair,  I'll  have  to  cut  your 
acquaintance  on  account  of  this  unwarrantable  selfish 


ALTHA.  7 

silence,  or  in  future  repay  you  the  same  coin  with 
interest." 

"  Do  no  such  thing  Hal,  and  I'll  confess." 

"  The  truth  is,  I'm  more  anxious  to  hear  of  your 
adventures,  than  to  tell  mine ;  and  why  should  I  not 
be?  You  have  traveled  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  this,  our  glorious  land,  even  to  the  western 
portal,  whose  stupendous  arches  could  shelter  a  stranded 
nation,  while  proudly  flung  wide  to  welcome  the  com 
merce  of  the  globe." 

"  But  here  comes  a  client,"  said  lawyer  Eldridge, 
taking  out  his  watch  as  a  foot-fall  sounded  on  the  stairs. 
"  I  will  dispose  of  his  business  as  soon  as  possible, 
make  yourself  comfortable,  here  is  the  morning  paper." 

"Thank  you,  don't  hurry  on  my  account.  While 
you  are  engaged,  I  will  drop  into  the  Exchange,  and 
take  a  look  at  the  Washington  Street  belles,  many  of 
their  former  images  are  retained  in  the  little  niche 
where  memory  hides  the  pencilings  of  the  beautiful" 

"  Exactly ;  but  you  must  dine  with  me  to-day.  We 
dine  at  three ;  not  the  most  fashionable  hour  perhaps, 
but  it  suits  my  time  best." 

"  You  may  depend  upon  me,  I  would  not  willingly 


8  ALTHA. 

loose  this  opportunity  of  paying  my  respects  to  your 
wife." 

Once  more  shaking  hands  at  parting,  Mr.  Hazel 
made  his  exit  as  the  stranger  entered,  and  touching  his 
hat  au  rewir  disappeared  from  the  landing. 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  I  go,  I  go !     And  must  mine  image  fade 

From  the  green  spots,  wherein  my  childhood  play'd, 

By  my  own  streams  ? 

Must  my  life  part  from  each  familiar  place, 
As  a  bird's  song,  that  leaves  the  woods  no  trace 

Of  its  lone  themes  ?  " 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

IN  journeying  through  life,  we  meet  many  pleasant 
acquaintances,  and  hold  agreeable  "  chat  and  chaffer " 
with  them,  knowing  them  only  by  name,  perchance,  not 
even  that. 

However,  we  will  improve  the  present  opportunity  to 
learn  something  more  concerning  our  new  acquaintances 
while  they  are  engaged. 

Mr.  Hazel,  or  Halvor  as  he  used  to  be  familiarly 
called,  owned  the  modern  city  of  Athens  as  his  birth 
place.  His  father,  a  wealthy  and  talented  gentleman, 
doted  upon  Halvor,  his  only  son,  and  spared  neither 
teachers  nor  expense  to  educate  him  a  perfect  gentleman. 
But  Halvor  would  grow  wild  and  careless,  and  the  father 


10  ALTHA. 

saw  with  dismay,  that  his  son  was  frequently  meeting 
with  fast  young  men  ahout  town,  and  feared  and 
trembled  for  his  darling. 

One  day  Halvor  received  from  his  hitherto  too  indulgent 
parent  a  severe  reprimand.  In  anger  he  seized  his 'hat, 
rushed  into  the  hall,  and  out  into  the  street ;  no  kind, 
relenting  voice  as  usual  recalled  him.  Therefore,  sullenly 
he  kept  on  his  way,  aimless  his  purpose,  as  had  been 
his  life.  He  walked  for  a  time  beside  the  Park,  then 
entered  it,  and  sauntered  along  the  mall ;  vexed  still, 
he  threw  himself  upon  one  of  the  stone  benches,  beneath 
the  shade  of  the  wide  spreading  trees,  and  gave  way  to 
dark,  bitter  thoughts.  The  day  was  beautiful,  the  cool 
sea  breeze,  from  off  the  dark  blue  waters,  fanned  his 
flushed  and  angry  brow,  and  played  with  the  heavy 
mass  of  raven  hair  that  shaded  his  broad  lofty  forehead. 
His  eye  flashed,  then  softened  as  he  gazed  towards  his 
home,  seen  in  the  distance.  He  could  see  his  sister's 
room,  and  raising  his  tall  form  bent  forward  inquir 
ingly,  as  through  the  open  casement  the  white  lace 
window  drapery  rose  and  fell  with  the  light  breeze, 
hoping  and  wishing  to  see  her  own  dear  self  watching 
beside  it.  Anon  he  watched  the  tiny  boat  of  the 


ALTHA.  11 

juveniles,  wafted  over  the  mimic  waves  of  the  pond,  to 
them  a  petite  ocean,  which  reminded  him  of  his  own 
boyish  sports.  He  turned  again  toward  the  paternal 
mansion,  now  doubly  dear  because  he  had  left  it  in 
anger.  The  shutters  of  his  mothers  room  were  closed 
as  usual.  Sad,  sad  indeed  were  his  thoughts  reminding 
him  of  that  dear  lost  one,  who  had  loved  him,  and 
watched  over  his  early  days,  with  all  gentleness ;  curbing 
the  impetuous  temper,  and  bending  the  strong  will  that 
would  break  forth  with  harsh  words  and  stern  com 
mands  from  less  sympathizing  persons. 

He  bent  low  his  head,  upon  his  hands,  and  gave  way 
to  the  flood-tide  of  feeling,  which  served  to  cool  his 
anger.  At  that  moment  two  girls  brushed  gaily  past 
him,  dressed  in  gauze  and  pastry  gems,  chattering  and 
giggling  as  they  walked.  He  raised  his  head.  His  lip 
curled.  The  feeling  of  vexation  was  but  momentary. 

"  Oh  why  should  I  be  angry  with  you,  trifling  dolls ; 
for  thus  disturbing  my  reverie.  Take  comfort  while 
you  may ;  perhaps  you  are  the  wisest  of  the  two.  How 
ever,  your  flight  has  recalled  me  to  myself.  A  few 
moments  longer  with  this  soothing,  familiar  scene 
around  me ;  and  thy  potent  influence  my  sainted 


12  ALTHA. 

mother,  and  I  had  succumbed  to  the  ideal  Goddess,  and 
had  crept  back  to  my  father's  Hall  softened  and  sub 
dued.  I  would  ask  to  be  forgiven,  but  in  this  case  he 
is  in  the  wrong,  and  I  will  not  be  mean  spirited  through 
any  fear  of  the  future." 

He  drew  himself  up  and  gazed  proudly,  sadly  around 
him. 

"Farewell  stately  elms,  and  staid  gravel  walks, 
beauteous  green-sward  and  sparkling  fountains,  I  leave 
your  cherished  images  for  other  scenes  whose  darker 
hues  shall  nerve  the  soul  to  dare  and  do." 

He  hastened  resolutely  forward  through  thronging 
thoroughfares,  courts  and  narrow  streets,  a  weary 
round,  stopping  mechanically,  it  would  seem,  upon  the 
wharf  and  commenced  surveying  the  packets  and 
steamers  anchored  in  the  dock  and  harbor.  His  brow 
grew  darker.  His  lips  compressed  more  firmly.  Not 
even  the  sonorous  "  heave  ahoy "  of  the  sailors,  which 
he  had  formerly  loved  so  well,  had  power  to  stir  the 
current  of  his  thoughts.  A  hand  was  laid  upon  his 
shoulder,  and  he  turned  suddenly,  almost  fiercely  toward 
the  intruder,  confronting  our  friend  Ethan  whose  cheer 
ful  tones  aroused  him. 


ALTHA.  13 

"  Ah !  Halvor  this  is  fortunate  indeed,  our  meeting 
here." 

"Any  thing  remarkable  in  it;"  rejoined  Halvor 
rather  coldly,  not  feeling  in  the  mood  for  company. 

"  Only  this ;  I  am  off  for  the  gold  regions,  and  could 
not  otherwise  have  seen  you  before  leaving." 

"  Possible  !  had  not  heard  such  was  your  intention." 

"  Suppose  not,  for  I  tried  to  keep  shady  about  it,  I 
could  not  endure  to  talk  over  and  discuss  the  subject 
with  every  one.  I  don't  like  these  adieus,  unless  with  a 
discharged  creditor,  bad  case,  or  something  of  that 
sort." 

"  When  do  you  leave  ?" 

"  I  start  to-morrow  morning." 

"  So  soon !" 

"  Yes ;  I  went  to  the  city  of  Gotham  two  weeks  ago 
to  purchase  my  ticket." 

"  Ethan  just  book  me  for  your  famous  El  Dorado." 

"  Halvor  I  should  be  most  happy  to  do  so ;  but,  can 
you  be  in  earnest  ?" 

"  Yes ;  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  my  keeping  you 
company. 

Except  you  have  no  need  to  go  ;  you  have  not  to  wait 
your  turn,  complaining  clients  scarce,  office  don't  pay." 


14:  ALTHA. 

"  Well,  never  mind  that  now,  but  remember  the  old 
adage  '  variety  is  the  spice  of  life.' " 

"  How  long  do  you  stop  in  York  city  ?  long  enough 
to  have  me  get  together  what  I  need." 

"  Yes,  and  we  have  a  little  time  now ;  I  am  nearly 
through  with  my  arrangements,  I'll  assist  you,  and 
gladly  share  with  you  all  I  have,  only  promise  to  stand 
by  me  when  we  get  there." 

Arm  in  arm  the  two  friends  hurried  about  for  a 
couple  of  hours,  then  entering  a  saloon,  Halvor  wrote  a 
hasty  note,  enclosing  the  key  of  his  desk,  and  despatched 
a  boy  with  it  to  No.  — ,  Tremont  street.  Then  calling 
for  some  refreshment  the  two  sat  down  to  await  the 
return  of  the  messenger.  The  note  ran  thus : 

' '  SISTER  ANNETTE  : — 

Send  me  a  roll  of  bills  you  will  find  in  my  desk,  and  keep  the 
key  yourself  until  I  return,  I  am  going  to  New  York,  shall  be  ab 
sent  a  few  days,  in  the  mean  time,  love  as  ever, 

Your  brother 

HALVOR." 

"  What !  not  going  home  Hal  ?  " 

"  Don't  mention  it,  I'd  not  like  to  enter  into  any  ex 
planation  of  my  movements  at  this  time." 

Soon  after,  the  two  friends  separated  to  meet  at  the 
rail-road  station  next  morning. 


ALTHA.  15 

"  Well,"  said  Halvor,  to  himself,  "  taking  a  retrospec 
tive  glance  of  this  day's  transactions,  we  have  make 
quick  work  of  it."  •'  Alas,  I  have  "broken  the  last  link 
that  bound  me  to  home  and  friends." 

He  leaned  forward  and  took  up  the  evening  paper, 
occasionally  running  his  fingers  through  his  hair  that  he 
might  forget. 


CHAPTER  III. 


"Art  thou  come  "with,  the  heart  of  thy  childhood  back. 

The  free,  the  pure,  the  kind? 
So  murmur'd  the  trees  in  my  homeward  track, 
As  they  played  to  the  mountain  •wind." 

MRS.  HEMANS 


FIVE  years,  old  time  with  his  hour-glass  and  scythe, 
has  wandered  as  usual  through  our  "beautiful  land,  and 
now,  Halvor,  the  wanderer,  has  returned.  He  has  grown 
sterner  and  darker  somewhat ;  he  walks  forth  free  and 
unconcernedly,  yet  at  times,  there  is  a  sad  expression 
flitting  around  the  mouth  and  the  eyelids  which  tell  his 
thoughts  are  far  away  ;  had  we  met  him  in  some  distant 
country,  we  should  have  judged  his  heart  was  with  his 
kindred.  Yet  how  has  he  heen  engaged  these  weary 
years  ?  Ah !  Lawyer  Eldridge's  client  has  departed, 
and  while  the  two  gentlemen  are  going  home,  we  will 
make  ourselves  acquainted  with  a  page  or  two  of  the 
'Squire's  early  history.  He  was  a  true  scion  of  the 
north.  In  early  days,  inured  to  various  hardships, 


ALT  HA.  17 

thought  comparatively  little  of  at  the  time,  scarcely  know 
ing  them  to  be  hardships,  from  the  difference  of  contrast, 
I  will  repeat  his  story  as  I  heard  him  relate  it  many 
years  ago. 

"When  I  was  a  little  shaver,  we  lived  upon  the 
shore  of  Lake  Winnepiseogee.  One  real  hard  winter, 
when  father  had  been  sick  for  many  months,  and 
mother  had  spent  nearly  all  her  funds  for  doctor's  stuff, 
I  had  to  get  up  all  the  firewood,  standing  in  the  snow 
barefooted.  Fortunately,  fuel  was  plenty,  and  I  did 
not  have  to  go  far  to  fetch  it  home.  It  was  a  long  dis 
tance  to  the  store  where  we  could  obtain  shoes  and 
stockings,  besides,  we  did  not  know  what  might  happen 
before  winter  was  gone,  how  long  father  might  be  ill, 
therefore  I  would  not  take  anything  from  mother's  fast 
diminishing  pile,  knowing  she  could  not  afford  me  any, 
so  mended  and  mended  the  old  ones,  till  they  couldn't 
hang  on  any  longer,  then  concluded  to  go  without. 

"  Alas !  when  the  pleasant  spring-time  came,  my  father 
slept  his  last  sleep,  and  sadly  we  laid  him  down  to  rest 
in  the  distant  church-yard,  and  soon  prepared  to  break 
up  our  home. 

"Often  in  boyhood's  days,  I  have  wandered  along 


18  ALTHA. 

the  margin  of  that  beautiful  lake,  where  stood  our  cot 
tage,  "building  air  castles,  as  I  gazed  upon  the  darkling 
blue  limpid  waters,  whose  glassy  surface,  reflected  each 
tiny  isle,  each  wooded  hill  and  shady  dell,  with  the  grand 
old  forest  in  the  distance,  and  mountain  tops  lofty  and 
grim,  whose  granite  "barriers  would  seem  to  defy  even 
the  assaults  of  time. 

"  Those  were  days  before  the  giant  steam-horse  had 
crossed  the  country  to  our  very  borders,  or  the  '  Lady_ 
of  the  Lake'  had  walked  the  silent  waters,  waking 
the  echos  of  the  fast  nearing  or  receding  shore  with  her 
shrill  whistle,  and  the  panting,  puffing,  snorting  efforts 
of  her  sooty  engine.  But,  as  I  was  saying,  we  broke 
up  housekeeping,  and  sold  the  farm  to  the  highest  bid 
der.  Mother  went  to  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  to 
reside  with  connexions  of  some  pretensions  to  wealth 
and  fashion,  where  she  soon  married  again,  thus  en 
tirely  weaning  me  from  home  except  by  association  of 
early  days. 

"  Too  proud  to  be  dependant,  boy  as  I  was,  I  struck 
out  for  myself.  Visiting  the  pretty  village  of  Meridith, 
I  found  a  good  situation,  with  plenty  of  employment, 
also  an  opportunity  for  attending  school,  which  I  joy- 


ALTHA.  19 

fully  improved,  and  graduated  at  the  academy  in  due 
time. 

"  Soon  after,  with  hands  in  my  pockets,  and  heart  in 
the  right  place,  I  started  upon  a  trip  over  the  hills  far 
to  the  north,  where  I  met  and  made  friends  with  the 
talented  old  Lawyer  Underhill,  a  very  worthy  and  re 
spected  citizen,  who  had  a  good  run  of  practice  in  one 
of  the  inland,  would-he  cities,  and  studied  law  with  his 
assistance,  in  his  office  three  years. 

"  However,  a  peregrinating  spirit  was  constantly  get 
ting  the  better  of  sober  reason  and  staid  habit ;  conse 
quently,  at  the  end  of  that  time  I  packed  up  and  came 
to  this  far-famed  '  city  of  notions.' " 


CHAPTEE    IV. 

"He  who  loves  not  his  country  can  love  nothing." 

BYRON. 

THE  hour-hand  on  the  dial-plate  of  the  Old  South 
pointed  to  three,  as  'Squire  Eldridge  applied  the  latch 
key,  and  ushered  his  friend  into  the  hall.  In  the  re 
ception-room,  which  was  most  elegantly  furnished,  fhe 
fair  Mrs.  Eldridge  was  waiting  for  the  master  of  cere 
monies.  The  usual  ones,  of  presentation  and  compliment, 
being  over,  they  repaired  to  the  dining  hall. 

Halvor  supposed  his  coming  had  been  entirely  unex 
pected  to  his  fair  hostess,  but  found  everything  arranged 
for  his  comfort.  His  friend  soon  enlightened  him,  by 
remarking,  "Halvor,  I  am  trying  to  adopt  that  old 
fashion  or  whim  of  my  father's  that  we  have  before 
spoken  of,  of  laying  an  extra  cover  when  no  guest  is  ex 
pected.  In  this  case,  it  has  brought  both  the  guest  and 
the  blessing,  which  I  consider  your  coming  to-day." 

Animated  and  happy,  they  laughed  and  chatted,  dis- 


ALTHA.  21 

cussing  the  variety  of  good  things.  An  hour  and  a  half 
passed  before  the  cloth  was  removed  ;  but  as  they  were 
neither  great  epicures  nor  gourmands,  such  a  hasty 
dinner  might  be  excused,  perhaps,  even  in  fashionable 
circles. 

Emilie  T had  been  quite  a  belle :  as  Mrs.  Eld- 
ridge,  she  was  an  interesting  and  agreeable  lady,  pre 
siding  with  care  and  dignity  over  her  household,  with 
all  the  magnified  honors,  cares  and  pleasures  usually 
pertaining  to  the  establishment  of  a  young  wife. 

Dinner  being  over,  the  gentlemen  arose  to  leave 
on  plea  of  previous  engagements  —  that  important 
"somebody"  to  meet  —  which  must  excuse  them  for  leav 
ing  such  pleasant  cozy-like  parlors. 

''Have  you  forgotten  our  cards  for  Judge  Merrill's 

to-night  ?  "  Mrs.  E ventured  to  say,  addressing  her 

husband,  who  stood  before  the  mirror,  pulling  up  his 
dickey,  and  giving  his  head  a  peculiar  twist  to  see  if  his 
neckerchief  was  easy,  then  adjusting  his  hat,  and  survey 
ing  it  with  a  look,  as  much  as  to  say,  don't  you  think 
I'm  pretty  good  looking  ? 

"  Now  you  remind  me  of  it,  I  do  remember.  Well, 
tell  John  to  have  the  carriage  ready,  and  you  go  as 


22  ALTHA. 

early  as  you  like,  I  will  come  as  soon  as  I  can  get  away." 
And  with  a  smile  and  "  good  bye,"  our  friends  are  once 
more  in  the  street. 

"  Now,  Halvor,  what  shall  I  do  to  amuse  you  ?  we 
have  some  hours  on  hand ;  I  have  sent  home  my  office- 
boy,  and  closed  doors  for  to-day. 

"  Will  you  go  to  the  opera  ?  A  friend  sent  me 
tickets." 

"I  am  not  in  the  mood  for  harmonious  sounds  to 
night  of  that  description." 

"  What  then,  shall  we  go  to  the  lodge  ? 

"Where  shall  it  be,  Ethan?  — where  lofty  halls  are 
magnificently  draped  with  damask  silks  and  velvets, 
the  gas  jets  flashing  among  cut-glass  chandeliers,  glit 
tering  with  a  jewelled  radiance  almost  equalling  the 
splendor  of  noonday.  The  quaint  device,  the  lone  star, 
the  single  eye,  the  death's  head  and  cross-bones,  the 
scrip,  the  staff,  the  purse,  the  crystal  basin,  the  floating 
banners,  where  strong  and  noble  men,  dressed  in  all  the 
paraphernalia  of  pomp  and  greatness,  glittering  with 
gold  and  mystery,  are  met  to  rehearse  their  kindly 
charities,  and  give  good  gifts  unto  men?  Or  shall  it 
be  the  shady  lodge,  beneath  the  broad  blue  canopy  oi 


ALTHA.  23 

heaven,  with  myriad  stars  hung  out  to  light  the  noise 
less,  swiftly-gathering  band  of  brothers,  no  vigilant 
watch  can  trace,  no  softly-tracing  posse  of  nightly  pat 
rol  can  lay  a  hand  upon,  —  their  wise  brains  teeming 
with  plans  to  save  themselves,  or  brothers',  perchance,  a 
nation's  freedom  ?" 

"  Here,  Halvor,  take  my  hat,  and  boots,  too ;  I  am 
ready  to  give  in,  since  your's  the  high  prerogative  —  the 
extent  an  honor  of  which  I  dream  not — to  teach  me  all 
the  mysteries." 

Steadily  the  twain  kept  on  their  way,  jostled  occasion 
ally  in  the  crowded  streets,  by  some  hasty  denizen  of 
the  city,  or  suburban,  eager  to  gain  their  homes.  But 
they  passed  not  without  observation  ;  men,  women,  and 
children,  gazed  at  them,  often  turning  back  to  take  an 
other  look  at  the  lions,  who  were  obliged  to  hasten  their 
steps  for  fear  of  being  followed  by  the  crowd  of  loiter 
ers.  They  reached  the  Tremont  House,  ascended  the 
stately  steps,  and  palatial  staircase,  and  traversed  long 
corridors  with  many  windings  and  turnings,  where  one 
might  search  and  find  not  for  many  a  weary  hour. 
Magically  a  door  flew  open,  and  they  entered 
a  sumptuous  chamber,  fit  for  a  monarch ;  a  nimble- 


24  ALT  II  A. 

footed,  animated  attendant  arranged  everything  for 
their  comfort.  Doffing  their  beavers,  they  seated  them 
selves  to  enjoy  the  genial  warmth  of  the  glowing  an 
thracite  kindling  in  the  grate. 

The  attendant  was  disposing  the  crimson  damask 
more  closely  about  the  windows,  while  Halvor,  as  we 
will  still  call  him  for  brevity  sake,  raised  his  eyes 
and  continued  speaking,  as  though  he  had  just  re 
covered  from  the  abyss  of  struggling  thought  in  which 
he  had  been  lost. 

"  No !  No !  hope  not,  think  not  in  me  to  find  that 
blessed  privilege,  that  high  prerogative  of  which  you 
speak ;  were  mine  the  precious  boon  to  read  mens  souls, 
and  lead  them,  'tis  true  I  should  wish  no  blot  nor  stain 
to  mar  our  nations  heraldry,  and  that  proudly,  O,  how 
proudly  on  every  breeze  as  now,  on  land  and  seas, 
might  wave  the  stars  and  stripes.  Flag  of  the  free ! 
but  I  too  might  say,  literally,  I  know  nothing." 

The  curtain  dropped  from  the  nerveless  hand  of  the 
attentive  Michael,  who,  for  a  moment  forgetting  his  place, 
stood  with  mouth  and  eyes  wide  open ;  a  glance  from 
Eldridge  recalled  him  to  himself,  and  he  quickly 
disappeared  to  his  accustomed  station  in  the  ante-room 
adjoining  the  office. 


ALTHA.  25 

"  Mike,  Mike,"  called  out  one  of  his  companions,  "  I 
say,  what  kind  o'  chaps  is  them  you've  been  waiting  on 
in  No.  — ,"  intimating  the  situation  of  the  room  by  a 
quick  motion  of  the  thumb  over  his  shoulder. 

Mike,  with  the  latent  wonder  still  gleaming  in  his 
eyes,  put  on  a  very  wise  look,  and  answered,  "  I  know 
nothing." 

"  Whew !  Jehoshaphat !  know  nothings  be  they  ?  Well 
then  why  didn't  you  creep  into  the  closet,  under  the 
chairs,  behind  the  curtains,  slide  between  the  panels, 
make  yourself  into  a  footr-ball,  in  short  do  anything 
rather  than  leave  ?  " 

"  The  fact  is,  I  was  so  taken  by  surprise,  so  flusterfied 
like,  hearing  the  one  with  the  dark  eyes  talking  about 
his  high  prerogative  to  teach  the  secrets,  I  didn't  think, 
nor  dare  neither  to  play  tricks  on  them." 

"  Ah  !  Mike,"  continued  the  first  speaker,  "  that  shows 
you'r  rather  verdant,  I  only  wish  I  had  been  there  instead 
of  you,  you'd  see  what  I'd  found  out." 

Thus,  from  lip  to  lip,  in  mysterious  whispers,  was 
spoken  the  magic  word  of  know  nothing  in  connection 
with  the  strangers. 

The  occupants  of  the  chamber  are  still  engaged  in 


26  ALTHA. 

friendly  chat,  unmindful  of  the  commotion  helow  stairs 
concerning  them. 

"  Halvor,  I  have  been  often  surprised  at  the  number 
of  smart,  enterprising  men,  who  go  out  to  the  gold 
regions,  and  more  surprised  at  the  rapid  strides  of 
civilization,  and  the  advancement  and  improvement  of 
society,  compared  with  the  number  of  human  beings 
from  every  grade  and  nation,  without  law  or  order, 
making  little  of  safety  and  less  of  comfort,  even  when  we 
,  first  went  there.  Now,  the  Cities  are  subject  not  only 
to  good  order  and  the  best  regulations,  but  they  abound 
in  the  comforts,  luxuries  and  splendors  of  olden  Cities. 
Nay,  more,  on  the  same  plan  of  rapid  advancement,  I 
believe  they  are  already  beginning"  to  live  too  fast.  As 
to  society,  all  who  can  dress  and  appear  respectably  are 
admitted  to  the  best." 

"  Yes,  Ethan,  and  their  cry  is,  give  us  more  energetic 
men,  more  worthy  citizens,  for  there  is  room  enough, 
room  enough  yet.  But,  Ethan,  I  supposed  when  we 
parted  company  there,  that  great  country  would  be  your 
home  by  adoption." 

"  Exactly ;  not  that  we  do  n't  appreciate  our  birth 
place  ;  we  value  it  more  ;  we  glory  in  it,  blessed  by  our 
pilgrim  fathers,  from  among  the  ashes  of  whose  altar 


ALTHA.  27 

fires,  our  noblest  emotions  and  truest  thoughts  have  been 
nurtured ;  but  I  learned  'twere  well  to  improve  the  one 
talent,  not  stand  back  inactive,  or  quietly  suffer  our 
selves  to  remain  in  ignorance  upon  any  subject,  because 
there  are  so  many  wise  ones  in  the  way  before  us,  but 
do  the  best  we  can,  even  if  we  cannot  see  honor  and  dis 
tinction  awaiting  us." 

"Ethan  I  learned  a  similar  lesson  by  comparing 
the  people  and  institutions  of  other  countries  with  our 
own,  and  watching  from  a  distance  the  thoughts  and 
movements  of  our  own  republic." 

"  In  reference  to  your  question  Halvor,  why  am  I 
here,  you  will  understand  me  better  if  I  break  off  and 
make  you  acquainted  with  the  history  of  another." 

"  Ah !  something  after  the  old  sort,  an  '  affaire  de 
coeeur  f ' " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  it  written,  and  will  hand  you  the  manu 
script  to  peruse  at  your  leisure.  As  for  myself,  I  made 
up  my  mind  to  try  gold  digging ;  very  sanguine  that 
I  should  get  a  heap  of  gold  rocks  in  no  time ;  imple 
ments  to  work  with,  land  to  be  worked  and  water  privi- 
ledge,  cost  me  a  good  round  sum,  but  then  we  are  going 
to  get  it  all  back  again  so  soon,  I  tried  to  think  the 
outlay  quite  excusable.  Accordingly  started  with  the 


28  ALTHA. 

first  company  going  to  .     On  arrival  hired  two 

sturdy  laborers  to  remove  the  sand  and  gravel,  and  we 
commenced  operations.  I  worked  for  three  days,  then 
caved;  spunky  say  you?  Well,  the  treasure  might  lie 
buried,  for  me,  if  there  could  be  no  easier  method  of 
getting  it,  than  we  had  then.  It  was  my  business  to 
sift  and  wash  the  dirt  and  gravel,  a  long  trough-liko 
seive  being  used  for  that  purpose  formed  with  strips  of 
board  for  the  sides,  and  parallel  rods  of  iron  or  narrow 
strips  of  board  placed  across  the  bottom.  One's  hands 
had  to  be  constantly  used  passing  the  dirt  back  and 
forth  with  the  water  in  the  seive,  picking  out  the  ore 
and  gathering  the  dust.  The  first  day,  my  hands 
blistered  and  the  skin  peeled  off,  the  second  and  third 
the  nails  were  worn  below  the  quick,  and  such  excruci 
ating  tortures  you  may  have  read  of,  but  I  hope  you 
have  never  suffered." 

Halvor  smiled  his  sympathy,  while  Ethan  continued : 
"  The  old  miners  told  me  I  should  get  used  to  it,  but 
I  had  had  enough  of  it,  consequently  discharged  my 
men,  sold  a  part  of  my  apparatus,  leaving  what  I  could 
not  sell,  retaining  only  a  lease  of  the  ground  to  rent  to 
other  adventurers,  and  sat  down  to  count  the  profits. 


ALTHA.  29 

As  I  told  you,  I  had  spent  some  hundreds  to  commence 
with,  for  which  I  gained  an  amount  of  ore  and  dust 
worth  about  fifteen  dollars  ;  not  half  enough  to  pay  my 
board.  I  assure  you  I  prized  every  particle  of  it,  and 
would  not  part  with  it ;  since  then  I  have  had  it  made 
into  this  ring,"  displaying  a  heavy  one  worn  upon  his 
little  finger.  "  I  keep  it  as  a  souvenir  of  gold  digging. 
But  it  is  time  for  me  to  be  at  Judge  Merrill's  ;  will  you 
go  with  me?  Your  appearance  will  create  quite  a 
sensation." 

"  No,  Ethan,!  am  not  fond  of  notoriety,  besides  I  have 
more  important  affairs  on  hand ;  I  must  first  see  Annette. 
My  messenger  returned  answer  that  she  was  out  this 
morning,  and  would  be  engaged  until  evening  ;  I  wish 
to  spend  a  few  hours  with  her  before  presenting  myself 
to  the  rest  of  the  family." 

"  Ah !  quite  natural  that  she  should  be  engaged,  I 
hear  that  she  is  to  be  married  soon." 

"  Is  it  indeed  so  ?  I  could  have  wished  it  otherwise, 
but  have  no  right  to  complain,  she  may  have  felt  the 
need  of  sympathy,  and  a  strong  arm  to  lean  upon, 
myself  in  voluntary  banishment,  whose  greatest  pleasure 


30  ALTHA. 

it  should  have  been  to  have  given  her  a  brother's 
affection." 

"  Well,  Halvor,  I  must  be  off,  here  is  the  manuscript 
I  spoke  of,  for  your  perusal,"  and  he  handed  him  a 
package  of  neatly  written  paper  rolled  together  and 
fastened  by  an  elastic  band. 

"  What !  from  father  Anselmo  of  Mexico  ?    Possible." 

"  Do  you  know  him  Halvor  ?" 

"  Yes ;  that  is,  I  have  met  him,  and  anything  con 
cerning  him  will  be  doubly  interesting." 

"  How  did  you  know  the  papers  were  his." 

"  I  suspected,  rather  than  knew  it ;  for  here  are  some 
small  characters  upon  the  margin  which  he  taught  me 
to  decipher.  Nothing  of  importance  though." 

"  Do  you  know  his  history." 

"  I  know  that  he  wears  the  garb  of  a  monk,  and  he 
may  have  been  a  priest  of  the  Holy  Order,  as  he  calls 
the  Ecclesiastic's  of  the  Church  of  Home." 

"  He  seemed  to  me  remarkably  sincere  and  candid ; 
yet,  notwithstanding  all  his  efforts,  he  could  not  always 
keep  his  thoughts  and  judgment  in  papistical  subjection. 
But  good-night,  Hal,  come  to  my  office  to-morrow,  early." 

"Yes;  good-bye." 


CHAPTER  V. 

"  He  seeks  the  needy  in  distress, 
The  widow  and  the  fatherless, 
And  strives  with  all  his  means  to  bless." 

"What  a  noble  looking  man  your  friend  is,"  re 
marked  Mrs.  Eldridge,  when  they  were  once  more  at 
home.  "  Why  did  you  never  tell  me  more  about  him  ? 
and  you  went  away  together." 

"  Yes,  he  stood  by  me  like  a  brother ;  he's  a  noble 
hearted  fellow,  he  will  stand  by  one  in  trouble  to  the 
very  death  ;  he  used  to  be  rather  a  wild  boy  before  he 
went  away,  but  seems  more  thoughtful  now.  Where 
formerly  you  would  admire  him,  even  as  a  stranger,  for 
his  humorous  wit  and  talent,  you  would  love  him  now 
for  his  candid  interest,  so  full  of  sympathy,  as  though 
his  great  heart  could  take  in  all  the  wants  of  his  race, 
and  plan  or  help  to  provide  for  them.  But  he  is  so 
modest,  and  has  such  a  quiet  way  of  doing  things." 

"  I  wonder,  hub.,  why  he  never  got  married." 


32  ALTHA. 

"  Married,  ha !  ha !  he  will  never  get  married  I 
assure  you.  He  is  not  a  lady's  man." 

"  From  what  I  saw  of  him  to-day,  he  can  be  a  very 
agreeable  companion." 

"  That  is  true,  but  it  takes  a  very  peculiar  woman  to 
suit  him.  I  remember  he  used  to  say  he  had  no  doubt 
but  that  there  was  one  made  for  him,  but  some  other 
might  have  claimed  her  through  mistake,  or  they  might 
never  meet.  He  used  to  declare  in  some  of  his  facetious 
moods  that  he  should  know  the  one  at  first  sight." 

"  Well,  dear,  I  hope  we  shall  see  him  often  while  he 
is  in  town." 


CHAPTEE   VI. 


"  Where  burns  the  loved  hearth  brightest, 

Cheering  the  social  breast  ? 
Where  beats  the  fond  heart  lightest, 
Its  humble  hopes  possessed  ? 

Go !  leave  thy  gift  unoffered 

Beneath  religions  dome, 
And  be  thy  first  fruits  proffered 

At  home  !  dear  home  I" 

WITH  strange  confusion  of  emotions,  the  exile  as 
cended  his  fathers  steps  and  rang  the  belL  He  was 
ushered  into  the  hall  by  a  stranger. 

"  I  wish  to  see  Miss  Hazel." 

The  man  eyed  him  rather  more  freely  than  was  his 
wont,  took  a  step  or  two  forward,  then  turned,  almost 
doubting  the  propriety  of  his  own  actions,  as  he  glanced 
at  the  stern  countenance  of  the  stranger,  and  inquired 
if  he  would  "  send  up  his  card." 

No ;  just  tell  her  I  wish  to  see  her." 

"  And  who  the  deuce  are  you !  "  thought  the  waiter, 
as  he  began  to  climb  the  stairs,  not  knowing  what 
better  to  do. 


34  ALTHA. 

Halvor  followed  close  upon  him,  as  lie  threw  open  the 
door  cf  the  private  parlor,  and  called  "  Miss  Hazel  a 
gentleman  wishes  to  see  you." 

"  Who  is  it,  Thomas  ?" 

But  before  the  man  could  answer,  Halvor  had  thrust 
himself  forward  with  a  quick  step,  and  come  to  a  full 
stop  in  the  middle  of  the  room. 

Annette  rose,  gazed  at  him  a  second,  and  with  the 
cry,  "  brother  !"  sprung  forward ;  his  strong  arms  were 
already  open  to  receive  her,  and  quickly  folded  her  in  a 
loving  embrace,  where  she  rested  quivering  with  the  in 
tense  excitement  of  the  moment. 

He  led  her  to  a  seat  upon  the  divan  near,  she  cling 
ing  to  him,  and  looking  up  in  his  face,  as  though  he 
formed  part  of  her  existence. 

Speedily  time  flew  by ;  the  small  hours  of  a  new  day 
began  to  le  numbered,  before  Halvor  arose  to  leave. 
Chiding  both  himself  and  sister,  for  allowing  him  to 
keep  her  up  so  late,  he  would  not  be  persuaded  to  re 
main,  saying  he  had  business  which  would  render  it 
more  convenient  for  him  to  stop  "  down  town  "  until  his 
father's  return  from  a  journey,  being  expected  in  a  few 
days ;  but  he  would  come  every  day  to  see  her,  if  his 


ALTHA.  35 

presence  would  be  no  drawback  upon  her  preparations 
and  arrangements  for  the  future. 

"  I  have  also  brought  you  a  few  choice  presents  in  the 
way  of  gems  and  curiosities,  to  prove  to  you  that  you 
were  not  forgotten  during  my  travels  ;  they  will  make 
quite  an  addition  to  your  collection  for  your  new  home." 

"  Thank  you ;  you  are  a  darling  brother.  I  shall 
prize  them  highly,  and  you,  always  used  to  be  so 
thoughtful  for  me. 


CHAPTEE  VII. 

"  How  beautiful  it  is  for  man  to  die 
Upon  the  walls  of  Zion  !  to  be  called 
Like  a  watch-worn  and  weary  sentinel, 
To  put  his  armor  off,  and  rest  in  heaven." 

WILLIS. 

EETURNED  to  his  hotel,  and  seated  once  more  alone,  in 
his  comfortable  room,  Halvor  slowly  unfolded  the  manu 
script,  and  commenced  the  narrative  :  — 

"  Many  years  ago,  standing  in  full  view  of  the  broad 
expanding  ocean,  a  short  distance  from  the  thriving 
and  beautiful  city  of  Portland,  might  be  seen  a  fine 
mansion,  the  residence  of  a  gentleman  who  had  retired 
from  business,  by  the  name  of  Walton,  better  known  as 
General  Walton.  Here  he  resided  with  his  wife,  a  gentle- 
minded,  loving  woman,  devoting  his  time  to  his  hand 
some  grounds,  and  the  education  of  his  three  interesting 
children,  Geneva,  Edwin,  and  Altha ;  each  shared  a 
father's  pride  and  a  mother's  doating  fondness.  Yet, 
the  most  endearing  affections  of  the  happiest  home 
circles  are  not  always  exempt  from  sorrow  and  trouble. 


ALTHA.  37 

Happy  are  they  who  have  learned  to  bear  them  as  the 
chastening  messengers  of  a  kind  Father's  love. 

It  was  a  cold  bitter  day  in  the  month  of  February ; 
the  snow  lay  upon  the  ground  many  feet  deep  —  enough, 
it  would  seem,  to  last  until  midsummer ;  long  icicles 
were  pendant  from  every  building,  tree,  and  fence  like 
wise,  where  there  was  one  uncovered  by  the  white  dazzling 
snow. 

The  cold  was  intense :  even  the  city  physician  took 
more  than  his  usual  precaution  of  wrapping  in  fur 
coat,  mufflers,  and  leggins,  while  preparing  for  his  daily 
visit  to  his  patients.  He  drew  reign  opposite  General 
Walton's  and  throwing  them  upon  the  back  of  his  well- 
trained  animal,  sprung  lightly  out  of  his  gig  and  up 
the  snow-path,  attempting,  as  he  went,  to  get  up  the 
circulation,  entered  the  parlor,  and  finding  no  one, 
passed  forward  to  the  sick  room.  All  the  family  were 
assembled  there,  a  sad,  sad  group.  The  once  proud, 
robust  form  of  Mr.  Walton  was  stretched  upon  a  couch, 
pale,  emaciated,  helpless.  Deep  lines  were  furrowed 
across  the  forehead  and  darkened  around  the  mouth, 
caused  by  wearying  sickness  and  pain.  The  eyes  sunken 

in  the  head,  at  times  for  a  moment  or  two,  were  deeply 
4 


38  ALTHA. 

brilliant  from  excitement.  The  physician  advanced  to 
the  bedside,  where  Mrs.  Walton  sat,  half  reclining 
against  the  pillows  for  support,  and  took  the  hand  she 
had  been  holding  in  her  own,  and  had  dropped  upon 
the  coverlid  at  his  approach. 

"  Well,  General,  how  do  you  feel  to-day  ?  " 

"Doctor,  my  lamp  grows  dim.  I  shall  soon  know 
what  it  is  to  make  an  exchange  of  worlds. 

"I  had  hoped  to  find  you  more  comfortable." 
And  he  turned  aside,  looked  out  of  the  window,  then 
among  the  cups  and  glasses  upon  the  table.  Many 
anxious  eyes  were  upon  him,  dreading  to  read  what 
their  fearful  hearts  knew  but  too  well.  He  busied  him 
self  preparing  some  simple  anodyne  to  procure  some 
thing  like  rest,  which  the  nearly  exhausted  patient 
seemed  so  much  to  need,  then  turned  again  to  the  couch. 
The  General  held  out  his  hand ;  the  doctor  took  it,  and 
retained  it  several  moments. 

"  Doctor,"  he  spake  at  last,  feebly  and  slowly,  "  thank 
you  for  all  your  kind  attention  to  me  and  mine,  these 
long  months  past.  I  thought  I  never  should  get  up 
from  that  fever  last  fall,  and  so  it  has  proved.  0,  be 
always  kind  to  these  dear  ones  I  leave  behind,  as  you 


A  L  T  n  A .  39 

have  been  to  me.  Farewell."  He  turned  his  face  away 
for  a  moment,  as  though  to  sound  in  his  heart  again 
that  funeral  knell  —  farewell ! 

The  good  Doctor  Burton  drew  himself  back,  and 
looked  around  as  though  he  hoped  to  gain  fortitude 
from  the  vain  wish  that  he  could  say  something  more 
cheerful  to  the  family.  He  was  used  to  such  scenes, 
yet  he  could  not  witness  them  unmoved,  and  his  heart 
would  bleed  for  the  stricken  ones. 

This  parting  with  Doctor  Burton  seemed  but  the  pre 
cursor  of  more  trying  and  painful  ones  for  the  family. 
For  a  time  he  lay  quiet  and  calm.  The  nurse  passed 
quickly  to  and  from  the  room  ;  also  Edwin  and  Altha, 
when  they  could  no  longer  contain  the  swelling  grief  in 
their  young  bosoms,  would  leave  the  room  for  a  moment 
to  still  their  sorrow-laden  thoughts,  then  back  again  in 
sight  of  the  dear  one. 

"  Deacon  Breck,  you  are  still  here." 

"  Yes,  brother ;  how  do  you  feel  now  ?  " 

"  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed,  and,  though  I 
walk  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  fear  no 
eviL  You  will  stay  with  us  to-night." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  as  long  as  you  wish." 


40  ALTHA. 

"  Deacon,  when  I  am  gone,"  and  his  voice  was  firm 
and  clear  as  usual,  "  be  faithful  to  the  trust  I  leave  with 
you.  See  my  will  carried  out  as  I  have  expressed  it. 
There  is  pleasure  in  the  thought,  even  at  this  moment, 
that  with  good  management,  I  leave  them  all  enough 
for  comfort,  and  a  trifle  to  spare.  My  wife  can  look 
after  the  girls ;  but  I  want  you  to  look  after  Edwin. 
0,  how  I  have  wished  him  to  become  a  wise  and  worthy 
man.  This  has  been  my  prayer  ;  see  that  he  has  every 
advantage  for  the  advancement  of  his  morals  and  learn 
ing.  I  have  spoken  to  you  of  my  thoughts  and  plans 
before  ;  but  remind  you  of  them,  knowing  that  you  will 
hold  them  more  sacred,  that  you  will  remember  my  dy 
ing  request.  You  have  been  a  good  neighbor,  a  kind 
friend ;  may  we  meet  again  in  that  world  where  is 
known  no  parting  of  friends."  Again  the  solemn  quiet 
—  the  clock  upon  the  mantle  seemed  still  alive,  as  it 
ticked  clear  and  monotonous  as  the  death  watch  at  mid 
night.  Once  or  twice  the  lips  of  the  dying  man  moved, 
as  if  the  mind  wandered,  perhaps  in  prayer.  But 
the  tones  were  too  low  for  even  the  breathless  dear  ones 
to  interpret  their  meaning ;  a  shiver,  and  he  partly 
raised  himself  upon  the  pillow,  and  threw  his  arms 


ALTHA.  41 

around  the  neck  of  his  wife ;  one  long  agonizing  kiss 
and  he  leaned  back ;  his  children  came  quickly  to  his 
bedside  and  shared  each  a  parting  kiss,  a  last  fond  em 
brace  ;  something  like  a  stifled  groan  was  heard  from 
Edwin,  who  came  last,  and  the  father's  eye  rested  upon 
him  earnestly  and  lovingly,  yet  sorrowfully.  "  My 
son  be  to  them  a  father,  brother,  all,  when  I  am  gone." 
Gently  the  eyelids  dropped,  and  closing  down  shut  out 
the  dim  light  of  earth.  Still,  still,  oh  !  how  still  was 
the  chamber  of  death. 

"  He  sleeps  in  Jesus,  let  us  leave  him  with  his  God," 
repeated  the  Deacon,  solemnly  breaking  the  chill  silence 
creeping  around  the  sorrowing  hearts.  Then  the  foun 
tain  of  tears  was  broken,  drowning  the  ghastly  spirit 
sorrow,  until  it  sinks  to  sighs  and  a  low  wail  for  the  dead. 
The  children  gathering  around  the  mother,  all  walk 
away  ;  leaving  husband  and  father  to  an  unbroken  rest. 
Months  passed  away.  The  widow  sadly  brooded  over 
her  loss  ;  in  every  look,  in  every  movement,  you  could 
well  fancy  you  heard  her  saying,  "  I'm  a'weary,  I'm 
a'weary,  I  would  that  I  were  dead." 

Edwin  had  entered  the  Deacon's  store,  at  his  sugges 
tion,  until  some  place  was  decided  upon  for  him  to  go, 
where  to  complete  his  studies.  -The  girls  remained  at 


42  ALTHA. 

home  with  their  mother ;  already  with  the  buoyant 
spirit  of  youth,  anticipating  their  future  .pleasures  and 
pursuits. 

One  evening  in  the  early  autumn,  at  twilight,  the 
ghis  walked  out  to  meet  their  brother  on  his  return  from 
the  store,  and  meeting  with  some  associates  remained 
much  longer  than  they  had  intended. 

The  Deacon  dropped  in  occasionally  to  see  the  family. 
Genevea  and  Edwin  who  never  thought  of  him  before, 
except  as  their  father's  friend,  had  begun  to  watch  him 
with  the  anxious,  instinctive  curiosity  of  children,  and 
to  feel  a. dislike  toward  him,  imagining  him  sinister  and 
cold  hearted.  Not  so  with  Mrs.  Walton,  she  could  see 
him  only  through  the  mind  of  her  deceased  husband, 
which  thought  would  not  admit  of  doubt ;  all  must  be 
right. 

On  this  evening,  when  the  children  were  out,  he  had 
casually  dropped  in.  He  sat  a  little  time  rather  un 
easily,  making  remarks  on  the  weather  and  prospect  of 
crops,  then  clearing  his  throat  began  : 

"  Mrs.  Walton,  I  have  for  some  time  delayed  speak 
ing  definitely  of  your  affairs,  not  wishing  to  harrow 
your  sad  thoughts  and  grief,  but  it  seems  altogether 
expedient  that  I  should  .not  wait  longer." 


ALTHA.  43 

"What  is  it?"  she  asked,  lifting  up  Jier  eyes  and 
resting  the  glance  of  her  full  grey  orbs  upon  him,  taken 
as  she  was  quite  by  surprise. 

"  In  regard  to  General  Walton's  estate,  the  property 
and  debts,  after  all  is  settled,  I  find  there  will  be  much 
less  remaining  than  he  gave,  me  reason  to  suppose,  and 
it  makes  it  all  the  more  difficult  to  arrive  at  the  amount, 
from  the  fact  that  I  find  among  the  papers  no  will." 

"No  will!  what  do  you  mean?  No  will!"  she 
screamed,  almost  hissed,  in  his  ears,  so  husky  was  her 
voice  from  excitement.  "  I  saw  it  written  by  'Squire 
Cram,  and  enclosed  with  the  valuable  papers  in  the  box, 
and  locked  and  sealed,  and  handed  to  you  for  safe 
keeping.  No  will !  I  cannot  comprehend  it,  sir  ! "  and 
she  bent  forward,  regarding  him  with  a  searching  look 
"  Tell  me  how  you  account  for  it." 

"  The  very  thing  madam,  in  which  I  hope  you  can 
help  me.  I  find  a  copy  of  a  will,  which  must  have 
been  the  one  drawn  up  at  first,  and  which,  by  accident, 
was  taken,  and  placed  in  the  box  for  the  bona  fide  will, 
while  the  true  one  was  brushed  away  with  the  waste 

* 

papers." 

"  Impossible ! " 


44  ALTHA. 

"  Just  so  it  seemed  to  me  at  first.  But  can  you  not 
see  how  such  an  accident  might  have  happened  ?  I  can 
account  for  it  in  no  other  way." 

"  0  dear,  what  shall  we  do  ?  But  why,"  said  she,  her 
eye  lighting  up  with  a  new  thought,  "  why  did  you  not 
mention  it  sooner." 

"  Why,  I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  read  the  papers 
immediately  after  the  general's  decease.  Therefore, 
when  I  did  so  and  discovered  it,  I  could  not  think  of  any 
other  way  to  account  for  it,  and  conferred  immediately 
with  Lawyer  Cram,  and  he  thinks  as  I  do,  that  the  copy 
must  have  been  accidentally  taken  for  the  proper 
will,  and  the  true  one  destroyed,  or  laid  away  in  some 
thing." 

The  good  lady  was  again  taken  aback,  and  dropped 
into  her  seat,  crouching  forward.  "  My  children,  0,  my 
children,  why  did  this  thing  happen  ?  It  is  not  for  my 
self  I  care,  but  for  you,  who  will  be  wronged." 

The  deacon  smiled,  —  quite  a  satisfactory  smile  for 
him,  —  and  continued,  "  I  hope  you  will  find  the  will,  or 
at  least  think  where  it  might  have  been  put ;  unless  you 
can,  I  see  no  way  but  to  go  on  and  settle  the  estate  by 


ALTHA.  45 

law,  and  it  will  take  a  long  time,  as  there  are  accounts 
'to  be  brought  in,  and  bills  to  be  collected." 

Still  the  widow's  thoughts  were  in  a  tumult,  and  she 
sat  half  unconscious  of  what  she  was  saying.  But  he 
had  said  his  say,  and  prepared  to  leave,  screwing  up  his 
features  into  as  sympathising  a  form  as  possible.  "  My 
dear  madam,  how  deeply  I  feel  for  you.  I  had  all 
along  feared  and  dreaded  this,  and  I  would  not  speak 
to  cause  you  trouble,  until  I  had  thought  and  done 
everything  I  could.  But  take  courage  ;  you  may  find 
the  will,"  while  his  eye  said,  "  I  know  you  won't,  and 
what  if  you  do  not ; — can't  you  settle  the  property  be 
tween  yourselves." 

"  I  will  talk  with  you  another  time,"  said  Mrs.  Wal 
ton  nervously,  "  at  present  I  can  think  of  nothing." 

Deacon  Breck  dropped  his  head,  sunk  his  chin  behind 
his  collar,  well  pleased  with  the  move  he  had  made,  and 
the  advantage  he  had  gained. 

A  little  while  and  the  girls  returned  with  their  brother ; 
they  were  startled  on  beholding  their  mother,  who,,  they 
saw  at  a  glance,  was  suffering  from  new  trouble,  and 
began  to  fear  they  had  been  gone  too  long. 

"  Mother,"  said  Geneva,  walking  hastily  forward,  and 


46  ALTHA. 

lifting  her  head,  which  was  resting  on  the  arm  of  the 
sofa,  "  are  you  ill,  dear  mother ;  I  did  not  think  we  had 
been  gone  very  long." 

Mrs.  Walton  raised  her  eyes  sorrowfully,  "I  could 
have  wished,  my  children,  you  had  been  here,  then  I 
should  have  been  spared  the  repetition  of  bad  news." 

"  What  bad  news  ?  "  all  exclaimed  in  a  breath.  "  Let 
us  hear  quick,  mother,"  cried  Edwin,  cheerfully,  and  we 
will  help  you  to  bear  it." 

"Put  away  your  bonnets  and  shawls,  and  we  will 
talk  about  it,"  which  order  seemed  given  in  this  instance 
partly  to  restore  her  own  failing  calmness.  "  The  trouble 
my  children,"  said  she,  at  length,  "  is  concerning  your 
father's  affairs.  Deacon  Breck  tells  me  there  is  no  will 
to  be  found." 

"  No  will ;  the  liar ! "  exclaimed  Edwin  springing  to 
his  feet. 

"  No  will ! "  said  Geneva,  proudly  tossing  her  head. 

"  Explain  it,  mother,"  put  in  Altha,  who,  though  the 
youngest,  and  by  far  the  most  quiet,  was  not  the  least 
quick-sighted. 

Here  the  mother  gave  a  detailed  account  of  what  had 
passed,  to  her  excited  children.  Edwin,  who  had  seen 


ALT  HA.  47 

fourteen  winters,  felt  himself  quite  a  man,  and  walked 
the  floor  with  rapid  strides,  making  his  footsteps  as 
heavy  as  possible.  His  eyes  flashing  with  anger,  his 
cheek  burning  with  excitement,  occasionally  speaking  a 
bitter  word  against  their  guardian.  Geneva  stood 
proudly  before  the  fire,  after  they  had  ceased  talking 
and  conjecturing,  as  though  some  great  thoughts  of  vil- 
liany  had  been  presented  to  her  mind  for  the  first  time. 
Altha  sat  by  her  mother,  a  tear  dropping  from  her  long 
eyelashes,  for  the  grief  of  others,  which  she  could  not 
comprehend.  At  last,  Edward  decided  he  would  call 
over  to  see  Lawyer  Cram,  notwithstanding  his  mother's 
assurance,  that  it  would  do  no  good.  The  next  morning 
the  girls  met  him  on  his  return,  but  he  would  not  tell 
them  anything  until  he  reached  the  house.  Then,  said 
he, "  Mother,  whatever  old  Cram  knows  or  does  n't  know, 
he  would  n't  tell  me  a  word.  My  opinion  is,  mother, 
that  he  knows  more  than  he  would  like  all  the  world 
to  know. 

"  But  your  opinion,  my  son,  would  not  weigh  in  a 
court  of  justice." 

"  I  know  it,  mother,  else  he'd  stand  a  chance  to  get 
some  of  his  deserts,  along  with  some  others  I  know ;  but 


48  ALT  HA. 

I've  a  mind  never  to  set  my  foot  in  old  skinflint's 
store  again." 

"Don't  get  so  excited,  Edwin,  and  talk  so  rudely 
about  the  man ;  perhaps  it  is  as  he  says,  and  it  will 
come  out  all  right  in  the  end,  and  all  for  the  best.  I 
think  you  had  better  go  back  to  the  store.  Your  guar 
dian  may  be  induced  to  look  after  our  interests  better 
than  he  otherwise  would  ;  besides,  I  see  nothing  we  can 
do  at  present." 

"Well,  I  think  he  needs  looking  after;  that's  a 
fact." 

"  Be  careful,  my  sou,  and  not  do  wrong." 

"  Well,  I'll  be  careful ; "  and  as  he  moved  toward 
the  door  he  called  to  Altha  "good  bye,  little  sis," 
and  he  caught  hold  of  her  long  golden  curls,  that 
floated  like  a  veil  over  neck  and  shoulders,  and  threw 
them  in  a  tangled  mass  upon  her  head.  She  was  his 
pet,  and  took  all  his  boyish  freaks  in  good  part,  know 
ing  what  re'al  brotherly  love  he  had  for  her. 

After  much  useless  talk  and  labor,  it  was  decided 
that  the  property  should  be  reduced  to  available  funds 
and  kept  for  the  benefit  of  the  children.  The  Deacon 
never  failed  to  remind  them  often,  that  the  sum  would 


ALTHA.  49 

be  small,  not  even  precluding  the  necessity  of  laboring 
to  assist  themselves.  The  house,  grounds  and  furniture, 
most  of  it  must  be  disposed  of,  as  unsuited  to  the  place 
they  must  occupy ;  and  all  were  of  one  mind  that  they 
chose  to  go  far  away,  rather  than  remain  near  their  old 
home,  and  did,  at  times,  feel  like  murmuring  and  re 
pining  at  what  appeared  to  them  a  perverse  fate  ;  I  said 
all,  but  should  have  excepted  the  mother,  she  knew  the 
value  of  kind  neighbors,  and  well  tried  friends  and 
acquaintances,  who  had  surrounded  her  in  joy  and 
Borrow,  and  would  gladly  have  remained  among  them, 
however  humble  her  lot,  yet,  if  her  children's  welfare 
demanded  the  sacrifice,  she  was  willing  to  leave  all  for 
their  sake.  The  widow  held  her  thirds,  therefore,  she 
felt  that  she  had  a  trifle  to  fall  back  upon  in  case  of 
sickness  or  dire  necessity,  in  any  uncalculable  form. 
How  little  one  living  in  comfort  and  luxury,  without 
any  knowledge  of  the  minor  details  of  living,  can  com 
prehend  the  chances  and  changes  of  a  future,  and  the 
expenditures  for  a  livelihood.  It  was  well  for  our  young 
friends,  that  their  prospects  in  anticipation  looked  less 
formidable  than  they  might  prove  ;  yet,  even  with  the 
darkest  side  of  the  picture  before  them,  with  courage 


50  ALTHA. 

and  perseverance,  we  have  no  doubt  but  they  will  come 
off  conquerors,  as  others  have  done  before  them. 

At  this  time  there  was  loafing  around  that  part  of  the 
city,  where  Deacon  Breck's  store  was  situated,  two  young 
men,  suspected  of  having  morals  and  principles  as 
unstable  and  disorderly  as  were  their  habits  and  circum 
stances.  Deacon  Breck  often  employed  one  or  the  other 
of  them  to  do  small  jobs,  such  as  loading  or  assisting  to 
unload  goods,  and  stowing  away  heavy  and  unweildy 
articles,  for  which  service  he  gave  them  a  drink,  a 
few  cigars,  or  pipe  and  tobacco.  They  had  been  intelli 
gent  boys,  and  had  got  an  idea  that  they  were  born 
for  a  respectable  or  better  situation ;  but  they  had  no 
means  to  carry  out  any  plan  of  their  own,  and  did  not 
know  or  feel  that  they  could  proceed  without  some  little 
assistance,  or  well  directed  counsel  which  their  parents 
were  unable  to  give.  They  had  been  too  often  im 
pressed  with  the  idea,  that  if  rich,  they  might  do  any 
thing,  but  if  poor,  no  one  would  care  for  them. 

How  little  do  persons  who  have,  outlived  childhood 
and  youth  think  or  dream  of  the  effect  of  bitter  lessons, 
or  the  repetition  of  them,  to  cramp  the  energies  of 
younger  minds. 

The  two  boys  lived  near  each  other,  and  together 


ALTHA.  51 

formed  plans  for  the  future,  and  idly  waited  for  some 
thing  to  "  turn  up  "  in  their  favor.  They  did  not  think, 
or  did  not  know,  they  must  first  discover  their  own 
ability  and  power  to  cope  with  obstacles,  and  then  push 
ahead  ;  but  from  waiting  and  idling,  they  began  to  feel 
the  opinion  that  others,  more  fortunate,  expressed,  that 
they  themselves  were  little  worthy  of  confidence  and 
respect. 


CHAPTEE  VIII. 

' '  Behind  the  cloud  of  death, 

Once,  I  beheld  a  sun ;  a  sun  which  gilt 
That  sable  cloud,  and  turned  it  all  to  gold. 
How  the  graves  altered !  fathomless  as  hell ! 
A  real  hell  to  those  who  dreamed  of  Heaven ! " 

NIGHT  THOUGHTS. 

A  FEW  days  subsequent  to  the  events  narrated  in  the 
last  chapter,  one  of  these  young  loafers  entered  the 
store  in  the  ahsence  of  the  Deacon,  and  coolly  stretched 
himself  upon  the  farther  end  of  the  counter,  there 
being  no  one  but  Edwin  present,  who  was  engaged 
in  arranging  various  articles  upon  the  shelves,  which 
he  continued  taking  from  a  package  just  opened. 

Edwin  having  been  cautioned  against  associating  with 
young  men  of  his  habits,  never  ventured  into  conversa 
tion  with  him,  though  he  often  felt  pity  for  him,  for  be 
coming  so  unworthy,  when  he  had  talents  to  make  a 
man.  Ike,  who  answered  to  this  euphonious  title,  spoke 
at  length,  "  Ed.,  how  can  you  endure  to  stay  here  and 
drudge  for  the  Deacon  ?  Why  don't  you  pay  up  old 
scores  and  leave?" 


ALT II  A.  53 

"  I  do  sometimes  feel  almost  savage  enough  to  do  so ; 
but  then  there  is  mother  and  the  girls." 

"  Oh  !  Ed. ;  I  only  wish  I  was  in  your  place,  I'd  do 
it.  You  know  how  I  hate  him ;  I  am  ready  to  kill  my 
self  at  times  for  doing  his  drudgery.  But  he  knows  I 
can't  resist  a  treat.  He  knows,  too,  that  I  have  not 
courage  enough  to  stand  up  after  my  work  is  done  and 
say,  '  Pay  me  something  better.'  How  his  look  creeps 
through  my  flesh  to  my  very  toes,  as  it  says,  '  What 
else  are  you  good  for? ' " 

"  But  Ike,  why  don't  you  turn  over  a  new  leaf  in 
your  day-book  of  respectability  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Ed.,  and  write  it  down  like  the  last ;  for  I 
should  meet  Old  Crooked  Sticks,  with  his  small  jobs,  or 
some  of  the  boys,  just  returned  from  somewhere,  having 
performed  some  wonderful  exploit,  '  to  stand  treat/ 
when  away  would  go  all  my  good  resolutions.  It's  no 
use;  I  tell  you  it's  no  kind  o'  use.  Howsomever,  Ed., 
if  you  will  just  '  keep  dark '  and  let  me  serve  the 
Deacon  a  turn,  '  I'll  set  quits,'  with  him  and  then  re 
form." 

Edwin  had  no  time  to  make  any  inquiries,  for  Iktf 
suddenly  threw  himself  from  his  recumbent  position, 

exclaiming,  "  there  comes  his  pictur,"  and  thrusting  his 
6* 


54  ALTHA. 

hands  into  his  pockets,  strode  rapidly  out  of  the  shop 
and  down  the  street,  looking  indifferent  and  lawless  as 
possible.  As  the  owner  of  the  store  entered,  he  gazed 
around  with  a  stern,  consequential  air,  to  assure  himself 
that  all  was  right,  then  ensconcing  himself  in  his  arm 
chair,  he  adjusted  his  gold-bowed  spectacles,  and  took 
up  the  paper.  After  a  few  moments,  he  inquired, 
addressing  Edwin,  but  never  raising  his  eyes  from  the 
paper,  "  What  is  that  vagabond  Ike  hanging  round 
now  for  ?" 

"  Can't  say  sir,"  was  the  response,  and  Edwin  con 
tinued  brushing  down  the  counter.  Another  pause  and 
his  employer  went  on  interrogatively. 

"  I  think  your  mother  will  make  a  good  thing  of  it, 
by  removing  to  Eoxbury,  Mass.  I  liked  those  English 
people,  Lord,  I  believe  you  call  them,  who  visited  here  a 
few  weeks  last  summer ;  they  were  so  affable  and  agree 
able;  a  distant  connection  of  your  father's,  eh? — and 
they  have  the  means.  No  doubt  they  will  be  a  great 
advantage  to  the  girls,  and  help  you  considerably." 

Edwin  made  no  reply  to  this  long  speech,  yet  his 
brow  flushed  with  anger,  for  he  saw  in  it  the  calculating 
spirit  of  their  guardian,  wishing  them  well  out  of  the 
way,  and  willing  to  thrust  them  upon  any  one  who 


ALTHA.  55 

would  bo  likely  to  have  any  thought  or  care  for  them. 
That  day  ended,  as  all  days  have  an  end.  His 
employer  retired  home  early,  leaving  him  to  guard 
his  property,  attend  upon  the  few  customers  that  might 
call,  close  the  shop  and  then  seek  his  hard,  temporary 
couch  among  cotton  bales,  flour  barrels  and  tea-chests, 
over  the  sales  room,  where  his  gurdian  had  wished  him 
to  sleep,  in  order  to  "be  on  hand  a  little  earlier  in  the 
morning,"  as  he  expressed  it. 

Edwin  had  put  up  the  last  shutter,  and  was  closing 
the  door,  when  a  hand  was  thrust  in  at  the  opening. 
Edwin  started  in  surprise,  then  drew  the  door  open  a 
little  to  see  who  might  be  there,  when  Ike,  with  a 
chuckle  and  a  bound,  sprang  past  him  into  the  room, 
expressing  his  satisfaction  at  having  gained  entrance 
by  a  sort  of  defiant  grin. 

"  What  do  you  want  now,  Ike  ?  " 

"  O,  something  important,  of  course;  but  haul  along1- 
side,"  said  he,  drawing  a  seat  near  the  stove  where  there 
had  been  a  fire,  for  the  evening  was  cool,  "  and  I  will 
toll  you." 

Edwin  began  to  feel  some  few  twinges  in  the  region 
of  self-esteem,  on  finding  himself  in  juxtaposition  with 
so  questionable  a  visitor. 


56  ALTHA. 

"Well,"  began  Ike,  "  how  are  the  folks  to  hum?" 

"  Well  as  usual,"  was  the  answer. 

"  Now,  I  must  say,  Old  Crooked  Sticks  served  you  a 
trick  concerning  that  ere  mil!  fact,  Ed. ;  he  ought  to 
suffer  for  it.  I'll  tell  you  what,  I've  a  sort  o'  hankerin' 
arter  some  o'  these  ar  notions  to  balance  accounts  be 
tween  him  and  me.-" 

"  But  I  don't  settle  any  such  accounts  as  you  may 
have  against  Deacon  Breck ;  true,  he  has  wronged  me 
and  those  dear  to  me,  but  I  shall  not  play  tricks  upon 
him ;  I  have  enough  to  do  to  look  after  my  own  affairs." 

"  0,  don't  fret  yourself,"  said  Ike,  who  always 
adopted  an  outlandish  style  of  language,  when,  as  he 
termed  it,  feeling  for  the  soft  place  in  the  skull  of  his 
victims.  "  Keep  cool ;  all  we  want,  that  is,  Mose  and  I, 
is,  that  you  should  be  quiet,  if  you  hear  any  little  noise 
in  the  back  court  or  down  below  in  here  to-night,  or  if 
anything  is  missing  to-morrow,  or  any  time  after  this, 
you  won't  know  anything  about  it  of  course.  Come,  now, 
you  can 't  say  you  would  n't  like  it." 

"  Perhaps  I  might  Ike,  if  I  was  not  here,  as  I  am,  it 
is  out  of  the  question,  and  I  shall  feel  it  my  duty  to  be 
on  the  watch  to  prevent  mischief." 

"  To  preach  against  us,  and  get  us  jugged,  eh  ?" 


A  L  T  H  A .  57 

"  I  should  regret  to  do  that ;  but  you  know  it  would 
not  be  safe  for  you  or  me  either,  after  such  an  affair  as 
you  propose." 

"  0,  we  have  arranged  it  safe  enough ;  but  if  you 
don't  want  to  list,  nuff  sed." 

A  rustling  was  heard,  which  sounded  like  a  person 
brushing  against  the  shutter.  Ike  raised  his  head  and 
listened ;  when  all  was  still,  he  arose,  signifying  his 
readiness  to  go  home.  Edwin  unfastened  the  door  to 
let  him  out,  when,  to  his  astonishment,  Mose  crowded 
himself  in. 

Edwin  regarded  the  two  a  moment,  then  putting  on 
all  the  manliness  he  could  command,  addressed  them  — 
"  Come,  boys,  you  must  be  off ;  it's  getting  late,  and  I 
want  to  shut  up." 

"  Wait  a  little,"  said  Mose,  "  the  street  is  full  of  peo 
ple  returning  from  the  concert,  and  it  would  never  do 
for  us  to  be  seen  going  out  of  here  at  this  time,  on  your 
account,  Ed. ;  it  would  n't  hurt  us  ;  we  are  known ;  if 
we  are  not,  at  any  rate  people  give  us  the  name  of  be 
ing  wicked." 

Poor  Edwin  he  was  in  an  unpleasant  position,  hesitat 
ing,  half  in  pity  for  his  companions,  because  they  had 


58  ALTHA. 

no  better  reputation,  half  for  himself,  fearing  if  they 
were  discovered  it  would  do  him  no  good ; — thus  the  two 
turned  back  to  wait  a  little  longer.  Mose  began  col 
lecting  the  live  and  dead  coals  and  brands  of  hemlock 
in  the  great  box  stove,  making  quite  a  pile,  over  which 
he  warmed  his  stiffened  fingers.  Said  he,  "  Old  Crooked 
Sticks  has  been  holding  forth  in  the  vestry  to-night.  I 
stepped  into  the  entry  as  I  came  along,  just  for  the  fun 
of  the  thing,  and  the  way  the  deacon  sentenced  us,  un 
godly  wretches,  to  perdition,  and  such  a  prayer  as  he 
poured  forth  for  the  widow  and  the  down-trodden  ;  if  it 
had  been  any  other  man!  but  it  seemed  so  hypocritical, 
and  canting-like,  and  I  kept  constantly  thinking  of  his 
sins,  as  old  grandmother  says,  '  forgot  the  beam  in  my 
own  eye  hunting  after  the  mote  in  his.'  One  such  man 
would  make  honest  people  forget  to  say  their  prayers." 

"You  don't  mean  to  count  yourself  in  that  class?" 
laughed  Ike,  rather  bitterly. 

"  Sartin ;  had  quite  an  inkling  that  way  once ;  but 
have  so  much  to  do  looking  after  other  folks,  think  less 
about  it  now." 

"Good  Mose,  go  on,  and  give  us  some  more  of  your 
experience." 


A  L  T  H  A .  59 

"Some  other  time  perhaps.  By  the  way,  did  you 
know  that  Underhill  cleared  this  afternoon,  with  his 
wife  and  babies." 

"  No !  How  ?  Where  ?  "  exclaimed  both  of  his  list 
eners. 

"Why,  you  see,  Nat  had  just  got  through  settling 
with  his  creditors,  since  his  failure  some  months  ago, 
without  anything.  Well,  it  seems  the  deacon  had  pre 
tended  to  be  a  great  friend  of  Nat's,  who  went  to  him 
telling  his  trouble,  and  how  hard  his  misfortune  was, 
only  hoping  he  could  save  a  little  for  his  wife  and  child 
ren. 

"  The  Deacon  thought  there  was  no  harm  in  saving 
a  little ;  his  cottage,  for  instance.  He  would  make  it  up 
to  them  when  he  got  started  again.  Nat  jumped  at  the 
suggestion ;  but  then,  who  would  hold  it,  was  another 
question ;  of  course,  he  must  '  swear  out.'  Here,  the 
Deacon  volunteered  his  services ;  he  would  n't  do  it  on  any 
account,  only  he  thought  so  much  of  Nat  and  his  wife. 
He  was  sure  he  would  make  it  up  to  them  again  forth 
with  ;  the  deed  and  papers  were  handed  over  to  him 
for  safe  keeping,  until  Nat  got  settled  up  and  then  he  was 
to  have  them  returned  to  him.  He  also  hinted  to  Nat's 
wife,  that  anything  she  wanted  to  reserve,  j  ust  have  it  re- 


CO  ALTIIA. 

moved  to  his  house  until  after  the  auction  sales  of  furni 
ture  were  over,  he  would  pretend  he  had  bought  them, 
as  he  had  the  cottage,  and  then  she  could  have  them ; 
accordingly,  a  nice  sofa,  a  mahogany  secretary,  worth 
seventy-five  dollars,  filled  with  articles  of  plate,  some 
jewelry  and  other  valuables  were  conveyed  to  his  house. 
Mrs.  Underbill  persuading  her  husband  there  could  he  no 
harm  in  it,  if  the  Deacon  approved  of  it,  as  he  did.  And 
now,  when  they  wanted  the  things  hack  again,  according 
to  promise,  the  Deacon  would  not  give  up  an  article, 
nor  a  paper.  Had  not  Nat  taken  an  oath  that  he  was  not 
worth  anything,  and  had  n't  they  said  the  Deacon  hought 
their  furniture  ?  All  was  his,  and  they  had  nothing  to  do 
but  leave.  Poor  Nat !  I  pitied  him.  Such  a  cruel  friend ! 
He  went  back  to  the  house,  after  his  wife  and  children 
were  put  in  the  wagon,  and  leaning  his  head  upon  the 
mantle-shelf,  he  cried  ;  and  then  he's  got  to  carry  the 
load  with  him,  of  bitter  thought,  if  he  had  only  been 
honest  with  his  creditors,  he'd  a  been  better  off;  so  Ed., 
you  see  your's  is  not  the  only  case ;  if  it  was,  there  might 
be  a  little  more  excuse,  perhaps,  for  the  old  curmudgeon." 
Here  Ike  stretched  his  limbs  and  gave  a  long  yawn, 
started  up  with,  "  Come  Ed  ;  my  boy,  let's  have  a  glass 
and  we'll  be  off." 


ALTHA.  61 

Edwin,  who  had  listened  attentively  to  every  word 
and  look  of  Mose  while  he  had  been  talking,  was  highly 
excited,  and  brought  forward  the  bottles,  as  directed. 

"  Draw  the  corks  carefully  my  boy,"  said  Ike,  "  we 
want  to  put  them  in  again,  and  snake  the  critters  back 
good  as  new,  after  we  have  done  with  them ;  we  are 
going  to  pay  for  them,  sure ;  but  you  can  wait  before 
putting  the  money  in  the  drawer  till  you  think  there 
Avill  be  no  questions  asked." 

Edwin  felt  every  moment  as  though  he  was  getting 
himself  into  the  mire  of  trouble,  and  wished  his  visitors 
would  leave,  but  had  not  courage  to  say  so,  for  fear  of 
their  ridicule ;  he  had  not  courage  to  own  he  was  afraid 
of  their  company. 

"  Come  Ed."  said  Mose,  "  you  must  drink  with  me." 

"  I  do  not  drink." 

"  Oh  do  n't  call  it  drinking,  just  taking  a  glass  of 
wine,  and  probably  we  shall  never  meet  again ;  our 
boat  is  in  the  cove  two  miles  below  here,  and  to-night  we 
are  off,  no  knowing  when  to  return.  I  should  like  to 
feel  that  we  had  left  one  good  fellow  behind." 

Edwin,  thus  flattered,  accepted  the  glass  and  drank 
the  contents.  Well  might  the  angels  in  heaven  weep 


62  A  L  T  II  A . 

over  the  ruin  of  that  dear  boy,  or  his  first  step  towards 
it ;  and  dark  the  line  drawn  "by  the  recording  angel  of 
the  sin  of  the  tempters. 

"  Now,  you  must  take  a  little  of  this  '  white-eye '  with 
me,  —  no  excuse.  It  wouldn't  he  fair  to  drink  with 
Mose  and  not  with  me.  A  spoonful  of  brandy  wo  n't 
hurt  you." 

The  next  morning  Edwin  found  himself  lying  upon 
the  bench  that  ran  along  by  the  counter,  with  a  blind 
ing  headache  and  eyes  burning  like  two  coals  of  fire. 
He  remembered  he  had  felt  terrible  sick  the  night  be 
fore,  and  then  again,  all  was  confusion.  Slowly  and 
painfully  he  dragged  himself  up,  and  began  to  put  tlie 
store  in  order.  The  deacon  had  been  called  away  on 
business,  and  did  not  return  until  nearly  noon.  But 
Edwin  felt  miserably  wretched,  waiting,  with  a  guilty 
trembling,  his  coining.  Often  he  would  repeat,  "  Why 
did  I  suffer  them  to  stop  ?  Why  was  I  so  weak  as  to 
drink  ?  "  "  Truly  the  wages  of  sin  is  death."  Where 
now  was  his  mother's  hope,  his  sisters'  pride  ?  Sorely 
had  he  been  tempted,  and  how  dreadful  might  be  the 
end?  The  morning  sun  shining  in  upon  him  seemed 
less  cheerful  than  usual,  bringing  no  happy,  peaceful 


ALTHA.  63 

feeling  to  his  heart.     Because  lie  had  sinned  the  world 

O 

looked  gloomy.  Every  familiar  countenance  appeared 
as  though  it  must  hide  a  cold  and  selfish  heart,  "which- 
would  hastily  judge  and  harshly  upbraid  him  for  his 
fault,  as  though  from  their  minds  would  vanish,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  memory  of  his  former  good 
conduct,  leaving  only  a  blank  leaf  for  the  searching 
gaze  of  the  curioso.  Again  and  again  he  turned  aside, 
as  though  to  hide  himself  from  poignant,  remorseless 
thought,  or,  burying  his  face  in  his  hands,  wept  tears  of 
bitterness.  How  futile  to  save  him  from  the  impending 
de.iwmment.  Soon  after  Deacon  Breck  returned  to  his 
store,  a  citizen  entered,  bringing  a  package  of  woolen 
socks,  which  he  had  found  upon  one  of  the  unfrequented 
streets  leading  from  the  city,  to  ascertain,  if  possible, 
who  might  have  been  the  owner  thereof.  This  was,  in 
deed,  an  unlooked-for  misfortune.  Edwin  bent  low  over 
the  desk  upon  which  he  was  writing,  trembling  with 
fear ;  respiration  almost  ceased,  and  he  felt  no  power  to 
move.  His  first  thought  was  to  deny  all  knowledge  of 
any  missing  articles,  and  accordingly,  he  acted  without 
farther  reflection.  The  package  was  immediately  recog 
nized  as  belonging  to  the  deacon's  store,  and  Edwin 


64  A  L  T  H  A . 

called  forward  and  questioned.  He  gave  them  no  satis 
faction.  Darker  and  more  threatening  appeared  the 
countenance  of  his  employer,  while  examining  the  pre 
mises.  The  lock  and  shutters  did  not  show  signs  of 
having  been  worked  upon,  besides  the  two  men  reasoned, 
no  person  could  force  an  entrance  without  awaking  Ed 
win.  Even  if  such  a  thing  were  possible,  he  would 
have  discovered  some  trace  of  them  in  their  work  of  re 
moving  or  deranging  the  goods ;  when,  if  he  had  not 
been  cognizant  of  it,  he  would  have  made  it  known  imme 
diately.  A  thorough  search  was  instituted  and  a  lawyer 
next  door  called  in  to  examine  the  books  and  papers. 


CHAPTEE    IX. 

"  'Tis  hard  to  gire  thee  up, 
And  thy  dark  sin !     0,  I  could  drink  the  cup, 
If  from  this  wo  its  bitterness  had  won  thee." 

WILLIS. 

WHILE  his  employer,  with  the  assistance  of  others, 
was  thus  engaged,  Edwin  hastened  home.  He  tried  to 
appear  calm  as  usual ;  he  spoke  a  few  words  to  his 
mother,  then  went  to  his  room  ;  gathered  a  few  trifling 
articles  which  he  valued,  and  secreted  them  about  his 
person.  Passing  out  of  the  house,  as  though  he  would 
return  to  the  store,  he  laid  a  hand  lovingly  upon  Gen 
eva's  shoulder,  and,  stooping  down,  playfully  kissed 
Altha,  and  lingered  a  moment  or  two  with  them  in  the 
hall.  They  felt  afterwards  that  he  looked  sadder  than 
usual  while  'proceeding  down  the  street,  he  turned  to 
look  at  them,  still  standing  in  the  doorway,  and 
watching  him  quite  out  of  sight.  He  must  hence 
forth  become  an  outcast,  a  wanderer,  neglected  and 
despised ;  even  if  a  few  charitable  hearts,  softened 


66  ALT  HA. 

toward  him,  endeavoring  to  excuse  his  fault,  he  would 
be  none  the  wiser  or  happier. 

Consternation  filled  every  mind,  when  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  three  hundred  dollars  worth  of  goods  were 
missing  ;  and  it  was  decided  to  put  Edwin  under  arrest, 
until  some  further  knowledge  could  be  obtained  concern 
ing  the  missing  property.  But  upon  looking  for  Edwin, 
he  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  An  officer  was  dispatched 
to  his  home  in  search  of  him,  who  was  indeed  surprised 
to  learn  that  he  had  been  gone  two  hours. 

"I  regret,  madam,"  said  the  man,  touching  his  hat, 
"but  I  must  do  my  duty,  and  search  the  house  for 
him." 

Mrs.  Walton  sprung  up  with  a  cry  of  terror,  and  con 
fronting  the  man,  wildly  demanded  the  object  of  his 
visit.  Gently  as  possible  he  unfolded  the  unwelcome 
news,  she  clasped  her  hands,  and  sunk  lifeless  at  his 
feet.  Directing  Geneva  to  call  some  one  to  assist  in  re 
storing  her  to  consciousness,  he  then  proceeded  in  his 
fruitless  search,  after  which  he  turned  his  horse's  head 
and  galloped  back  to  the  city. 

With  a  strength  of  purpose  and  understanding  far 
superior  to  their  years,  Geneva  and  Altha  endeavored  to 


ALTHA.  67 

comfort  and  console  their  mother.  They  hovered  around 
her  during  the  tedious  hours  of  their  first  wretched  and 
suffering  night.  They  listened  attentively  to  the  faint 
est  sound.  If  the  rude  wind  jarred  a  door  or  casement, 
or  the  breeze  rustled,  the  falling  leaves  and  stirred  the 
long  arms  of  the  giant  oak  that  shaded  their  dwelling. 
They  heard  his  step,  —  the  bent  branches,  scratching 
upon  the  roof  or  striking  upon  the  window  panes,  must 
be  his  knock  ;  and  if  a  low  wail  or  a  faint  moan  sounded 
amid  the  forest  trees,  dying  away  over  the  fields,  crouch 
ing  along  the  fences,  and  disappearing  like  a  wierd 
spirit  in  some  shady  dell,  beneath  some  rocky  cliff  or 
cavern  nook ;  they  started  wild  with  excitement,  fancy 
ing  they  heard  his  voice  —  his  call.  Fearfully  they 
peered  forth  into  the  darkness,  feeling  that  he  must  be 
looking  upon  them  through  the  darkening  shutter. 
Sickening,  harrowing  the  thought,  what  had  become  of 
him.  At  one  moment  entreating,  supplicating  the  In 
visible  Presence  hovering  around  them,  for  their  loved 
one's  return ;  the  next,  sinking  down  faint,  exhausted, 
hope  vanishing  in  the  presence  of  grim  despair.  Gladly 
they  welcomed  the  first  grey  dawn  of  the  morning, 


68  ALTHA. 

thoroughly  benumbed,  weary,  and  heart-sick,  having 
taken  neither  rest  nor  refreshment  for  many  hours. 

"No  news!  No  news!"  called  out  a  kind-hearted 
neighbor,  coining  in  abruptly,  making  a  great  bustling 
noise,  as  though  he  had  been  searching  for  information. 
His  face  shining  with  hopeful,  happy  thought,  bidding 
them  bo  of  good  cheer.  "  No  doubt,"  he  added,  "  the 
boy  is  innocent,  and  it  is  lucky  he  thought  to  leave 
until  the  guilty  party  is  discovered.  Take  courage, 
my  friends,  he  will  return  all  in  good  time.  True, 
the  whole  police  have  been  on  the  look-out  or  tramp 
after  him  ever  since  he  left,  but  they  wo  n't  find  him  ; 
he's  safe  enough  by  this  time,  and  he'd  better  keep 
so,  a  spell,  I  reckon." 

How  much  a  few  kind  words  can  do  to  lighten  the 
heart  crushed  down  with  its  heavy  load  of  sorrow, 
though  spoken  in  homely  phrase. 

"  Do  not  fear,"  he  said,  rising  and  going  to  the  door, 
his  eye  filling  with  happy  light  and  moistening  with  the 
dew  of  a  tear.  "  There's  not  a  sparrow  that  falleth  to 
the  ground  without  our  heavenly  Father's  notice  ;  lie 
feeds  the  raven,  and  clothes  the  lilly ; "  and  the  kind- 
hearted  neighbor  was  half  way  down  the  gravel  walk 
leading  from  the  door,  when  he  ceased  speaking ;  but 


ALTHA.  69 

he  had  performed  his  little  mission  of  love  and  charity, 
and  he  wanted  no  words. 

Mrs.  Walton  speedily  finished  her  arrangements  for 
leaving  the  old  homestead,  as  soon  as  she  could  realize 
that  Edwin  would  "be  more  likely  to  come  to  them  in  a 
new  place  than  he  would  if  they  remained  where  they 
were;  and  as  they  settled  in  their  new  home,  thrice 
widowed  seemed  the  heart  of  that  fond  mother,  mourn 
ing  the  uncertain  fate  of  her  darling  hoy. 

Their  English  friends  whom  we  have  hefore  spoken  of, 
were  all  that  friends  could  he.  But  even  their  kindest 
care  and  sympathy  could  not  relieve  her  mind  of  its 
heavy  weight  of  trouble.  Their  guardian  withheld 
all  of  the  property  except  a  small  pittance  to  the 
mother,  and  they  were  aroused  too  soon  to  the  unwel 
come  knowledge  that  they  must  labor  for  a  livelihood. 
Deathless  seemed  the  energy,  and  exhaustless  the 
strength  of  those  high-souled,  proud-hearted  girls,  toil 
ing  with  hand  and  brain  to  secure  an  education,  some 
thing  like  the  one  their  father  had  planned  for  them, 
and  still  furnish  all  the  comforts,  with  a  few  luxuries,  of 
i  life,  for  their  dearly  loved,  remaining  parent.  They  made 
many  friends,  and  many  a  beautiful  home  was  kindly 
opened  to  them,  many  a  peaceful  asylum,  where  they 


70  ALTHA. 

might  find  shelter  from  the  fierce  storms  and  warring 
elements  of  care  and  misfortune.  But  no !  they  had 
"been  too  long  accustomed  to  luxuries,  in  their  own  right, 
to  bow  down  and  worship,  or  crave  bright  gifts,  except 
as  fitting  meed  for  honest  endeavor,  the  which  they 
might  unshrinkingly  and  happily  enjoy.  Days,  weeks 
and  months  passed  away,  and  that  gentle  mother  had 
lived,  subdued  in  thought  and  effort ;  bent  to  earth  like 
a  bruised  reed,  whose  branches  and  leaves  had  withered 
and  crisped  as  the  cherished  springs  of  hope  and  love 
had  failed.  The  one  sinking  away  down  in  the  dark 
earth,  the  other,  afar  off,  perchance  wandering  in  a  dis 
tant  clime.  But  now  her  health  failed  rapidly,  and  her 
daughters  felt,  for  her  sake,  they  must  have  assistance ; 
consequently  they  wrote  to  their  guardian,  pleading  for 
a  small  share  of  their  patrimony,  to  cheer  and  brighten 
their  mother's  few  remaining  days.  The  answer  came 
at  last,  cold  and  cruel  in  the  extreme.  To  them  it 
seemed  the  very  climax  of  insult  and  despair.  It  ran 
thus: 

' '  MADAM  :  — 
If  you  cannot  support  your  daughters,  send  them  to  me." 

How  they  had  feared  and  trembled,  as  they  felt  they 
stood  upon  the  very  verge  of  downright  poverty.     But 


ALTHA.  71 

now  they  were  strong  again  ;  wounded  pride  as  well  as 
love  nerved  them  to  almost  superhuman  efforts,  to  in 
sure  their  mother  every  attention  and  delicacy  her 
wasted  energy  and  failing  strength  required.  But,  yet, 
still  greater  trials  were  in  store  for  them.  Slowly, 
surely,  day  by  day,  that  loved  parent  faded  and  weak 
ened  ;  all  effort  powerless  to  save.  Patiently,  resignedly, 
she  watched  and  waited  for  the  swift-winged  messenger, 
"bearing  her  summons  from  the  shore  of  time;  her 
"  lamp  trimmed  and  burning ; "  her  soul  purified  and 
strengthened,  through  a  heavenly  faith  from  the  pre 
cepts  of  our  blessed  Saviour. 

0,  how  much  of  agony  they  endured  with  the  last 
parting  words,  the  last  farewell  glance.  Let  us  shut 
out  the  light,  and  leave  them  for  a  time  kneeling  beside 
their  cherished  dead,  nor  suffer  such  sacred  grief  to  be 
disturbed,  even  by  the  foot-fall  of  a  friend.  Long  time 
they  wept,  and  indulged  their  passionate  grief  as  though 
they  would  not  be  comforted.  The  soul,  void  of  happi 
ness  and  pleasure,  was  filled  with  long  shadows  and 
grief-laden  sighs. 


CHAPTEK  X. 

"  All  was  so  still,  so  soft,  in  earth  and  air, 
You  scarce  would  start  to  meet  a  spirit  there  ; 
Secure  that  nought  of  evil  could  delight 
To  walk  in  such  a  scene,  on  such  a  night. " 

BYRON. 

THE  twilight  deepens,  softly,  silently,  night  let  down 
her  mysterious  curtains,  darkening  a  world.  Altha  and 
her  sister  sat  near  a  window  in  their  cozy  little  parlor, 
some  few  weeks  after  their  mother's  decease,  watching 
the  noiseless  shadows  creeping  around  them.  Altha 
murmured,  "  Night !  beautiful,  glorious  night,  I  love 
thy  mysterious  presence,  thou  that  fillest  my  soul  with 
heavenly  longings,  with  vague  "blessings,  and  ideal 
hopes ;  thou  art  a  guardian  spirit  watching  over  the 
earth,  and  thoughtfully  shutting  out  the  light,  that  her 
weary,  restless  children  may  enjoy  more  quiet  rest,  more 
peaceful  sleep.  Sister  I  have  been  feeling  all  day  as 
though  we  should  have  company  to-night." 

"  Banish  such  foolish  fancies,  Altha ;  even  our  sainted 
mother  cautioned  you  against  them." 


ALTHA.  73 

"  I  know  it,  but  I  cannot  get  rid  of  them  ;  they  come 
unbidden,  and  stand  like  sentry-posts  near  the  door  of 
the  inner  temple,  filled  with  the  mysteries  of  our  own 
mysterious  being.  And  this  thought  or  presentiment 
of  a  visitor  makes  me  feel  lonely,  0  how  lonely ;  all  my 
heart  is  shut  up,  and  I  see  myself  in  the  future,  wander 
ing  alone." 

"  Oh !  Altha  dear,  I  fear  you  will  never  be  fit  for 
anything,  if  you  indulge  in  such  folly  ;  yet  I  have  seen 
even  your  childish  prophecies  sway  older  minds  and 
stronger  nerves.  Why  is  it  ?  I  do  not  believe  you  are 
favored  with  any  knowledge  or  power  superior  to  others ; 
or  that  any  mortal  being  possesses  a  gift  to  lift  the  veil 
which  hides  the  future.  I  am  happy  there  is  no  such 
power  given,  and  that  you  do  not  possess  it,  for,  indeed, 
you  would  be  most  miserable." 

"  Is  it  because  you  think  I  should  learn  all  the 
mysteries  of  human  hearts,  and  hate  the  world  ?" 

"  No,  sister  Altha,  you  would  think  better  of  every 
one  and  everything,  the  more  true  knowledge  you  pos 
sessed.  I  remember  when  you  were  quite  a  child,  your 
wishing  for  power  to  read  the  heart  of  man,  and  com 
prehend  all  its  varied  emotions,  whether  of  pleasure  or 
misery.  And  supposing  that  thoughtless  wish  was 


74  ALTIIA. 

granted,  1  shudder  to  think  what  might  be  your  own 
destiny,  for,  be  assured,  you  can  learn  such  lessons 
only  through  your  own  trials  and  sufferings." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  mine  is  a  wayward  heart  or  a 
wicked  one.  I  can  never  realize  anything ;  there  is  a 
maze  before  my  eyes,  yet  I  am  restless,  and  fain  would 
grow  wise.  Genius  come  fill  me  a  goblet  of  thy  choicest 
nectar,  and  give  me  to  drink,  I  am  thirsting,  and  fain 
would  drink  deep,  deep,  yea,  and  bathe  my  weary  soul 
also  in  thy  waters." 

Altha,  as  she  walked  to  and  fro  in  their  little  parlor, 
speaking  energetically,  returned  her  sister's  look  of  sad 
surprise,  with  a  careless  smile,  which  vanished  as  their 
only  domestic  threw  wide  the  door  and  announced  a 
visitor.  Happy  and  cheerful  was  their  greeting  and 
welcome  to  Carey  Landon,  an  old  acquaintance  and 
friend,  who  resided  near  the  old  homestead,  as  they 
termed  their  early  home.  He  persuaded  Geneva  to  re 
turn  with  him,  in  a  few  weeks,  when  he  would  come  for 
her,  to  fill  a  beautiful  home  he  had  been  preparing  in 
the  "  City  of  Elms."  The  grounds,  house,  furniture 
and  ornaments  were  unique  and  home-like.  And  with 
a  happy  heart,  she  took  possession  of  her  stately  home. 
Altha  declined  staying  with  them  except  for  an  occa- 


ALTHA.  75 

sional  visit.  "  Why  should  I  ?  "  she  would  ask  herself, 
"  I  have  other  cherished  friends  who  care  for  me.  Why 
should  I  not  carry  out,  alone,  the  plans  Geneva  and 
myself  suggested  as  a  mutual  benefit  for  each  other."  • 

Altha,  once  a  quiet,  gentle  child,  had  grown  to  a 
young  lady,  beautiful  and  self-reliant,  and  buoyant  as 
a  happy  thought.  She  possessed  one  of  the  few  remark 
able  temperaments  scattered  along  the  wayside  journey 
of  life,  which  rise  higher,  nobler,  and  more  enduring 
with  every  trial  and  misfortune ;  yet,  with  all  a  true 
woman's  nature,  pure,  sensitive  and  lovely.  Her  mirror 
answered  to  herself  in  no  very  flattering  terms  concern 
ing  her  beauty,  —  calm,  tame,  passionless  in  every  fea 
ture,  to  others,  remarkably  handsome  and  intelligent ;  at 
times,  when  moved  or  excited,  was  strikingly  brilliant, 
her  large  blue  eyes  when  at  rest  beamed  with  a  gentle 
lovelight,  at  others,  proudly  flashed  with  enthusiastic 
sentiment  and  feeling. 

Altha  often  passed  much  time  with  her  English  friends. 
Upon  this  evening  she  was  standing  in  the  deep  bay, 
window,  looking  forth  upon  the-  night.  Lovely,  how 
gloriously  lovely  the  deep  blue  expanse  of  ether,  through 
whose  silvery  veil  myriads  of  diamond  stars  peeped  out 
to  cheer  the  lonely-hearted  and  young  life's  dreamer ; 


76  ALTHA. 

the  crescent  moon,  with  pendant  horns,  foretelling  to  the 
weather-seer  the  prospect  of  storm  or  shine  for  coming 
days,  sailing  swiftly,  majestically  on,  no  dark  gathering 
clouds  could  stay  or  hide  her,  but,  dashing  them  aside, 
she  sped  proudly  on,  on,  as  though  spurning  their  frail 
harriers,  set  up  to  he  defied  or  passed  over  in  silence. 
Altha  enjoyed  the  quiet  night  time  ;  it  was  the  season 
of  her  soul's  finest,  noblest  worship  ;  and,  when  contem 
plating  the  outer  world  of  universal  harmony  and 
beauty,  she  forgot  herself. 

"  I  wish  that  you  would  choose  me  a  companion  of 
your  thoughts,"  said  Walter  Marvin,  stepping  to  her 
side. 

"  Indeed  I  fear  you  would  be  little  benefitted  by  them. 
I  have  not  a  very  peculiar  gift  of  imparting  them  to 
others." 

"  But  I  am  anxious  to  learn  of  your  meditations ;  can 
I  not  buy  them?" 

"  No,  sir ;  you  cannot.  Yet,  if  you  are  so  anxious  to 
hear,  listen.  I  was  letting  fancy  take  a  journey  upon 
those  light  fleecy  clouds,  that  have  risen  since  I  stood 
here,  and  trying,  while  I  did  so,  to  stretch  the  neck  of 
my  wits  to  discover  the  mysteries  beyond,  and  finding 


ALTHA.  77 

myself  to  be  little  wiser  than  when  I  set  out,  I  turned 
a  look  downwards,  and  commenced  a  study  of  the  lords 
and  masters  of  this  sphere.  Puny,  consequential  man  ! 
Then  I  began  to  compare  the  frivolty  and  folly  of  in 
stilling  into  the  minds  of  children  lessons  of  station  and 
rank,  least  they  forget  their  own  individual  importance." 
"You  must  have  had  a  few  lessons,  one  would  judge 
from  your  tone,"  remarked  a  lady  who  had  come  up  and 
remained  standing  behind  the  speaker. 

"  Think  what  you  will,  I  hope  my  friends  will  not 
judge  me  too  harshly." 

"  Fie,  darling ! "  said  the  new  comer,  "  why  can 't  you 
talk  nonsense  ?  Why  can 't  you  be  merry  and  noisy  as 
the  rest  ?  Then  no  one  would  think  you  lonely  and 
proud ;  but  you  go  about  with  that  earnest,  dreamy 
countenance,  and  those  great  deep  eyes,  turned  within 
that  every  eye  follows  you,  and  every  heart  wants  to 
open  its  own  door  and  take  you  in.  You  should  let 
them  discover  how  you  are  most  comeatable,"  and  the 
speaker  laughed  carelessly,  as  though  to  do  away  with 
the  effect  of  her  words,  then  glided  away  as  some  one 
sat  down  to  the  piano,  and  played  and  sang  the  sweet 

familiar  song  of  "  The  Switzer's  Home." 

70 


78  ALT  HA. 

Altha  forgot  the  gentleman  beside  her  as  she  listened ; 
she  bent  her  head  upon  her  hand  ;  the  pearl  drops  glis 
tened  through  her  fingers ;  her  bosom  heaved,  and 
brushing  back  the  window  drapery,  she  stepped  upon 
the  balcony  and  disappeared  among  the  shrubbery  in 
the  garden. 

" I  am  growing  quite  interested  in  this  little  blonde" 
said  Marvin  to  himself ;  "  I  had  thought  her  quite  an 
every-day  young  lady,  but  when  she  speaks,  her  eye 
and  tone  remind  one  that  there  is  a  soul  hid  away  some 
where.  I  wonder  she  does  not  use  her  powers  to  advan 
tage  ;  if  she  did  she  'd  have  a  crowd  at  her  feet.  Old 
Colonel  Kensing  remarked  last  evening,  as  she  passed 
the  hotel  while  we  were  standing  upon  the  steps,  that 
'  she  would  fetch  a  fellow  to  the  brink  of  love,  without 
herself  ever  seeming  to  have  given  one  thought  to  the 
subject  in  her  whole  life,  and  as  soon  as  he  made  a  der 
claration,  away  he  'd  go  tumbling  down  the  fearful  pre 
cipice  of  rejection.'  But  then  the  colonel  pretends  to 
know  so  much,  and  goes  about  with  his  iron-bound  dic 
tionary  under  his  arm,  quizzing  everybody.  I  'd  like 
to  have  a  little  flirtation  with  her  myself,  only  I  'm 
afraid  she  would  take  it  in  earnest.  She  seems  to  mo 


ALTHA.  79 

like  a  vine  creeping  up,  up,  and  twining  her  arms 
around,  searching  for  affection  and  drinking  it  up,  and 
I  cannot  afford  to  get  entangled. 

"  No,  Marvin,  it  would  never  do  for  you.  What  could 
you  do  with  a  wife,  with  all  the  necessary  appurtenances 
and  incumbrances  ?  But  then,  I  could  treat  one  well, 
and  love  her,  too,  if  she  was  just  right." 

"  Come,  Walter ;  are  you  moonstricken,  or  love-smit 
ten?  standing  here  star-gazing,"  and  the  speaker 
familiarly  laid  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  being,  as 
Marvin  termed  it,  "  not  only  an  acquaintance,  but  one 
of  his  kind." 

Altha  had  often  met  one  or  both  of  these  young  men 
at  Mr.  Lord's.  They  were  good  company,  belonged  to 
good  families,  and  had  money  plenty  to  spend  on  all 
occasions ;  therefore  many  of  their  faults  were  passed 
over  lightly,  their  friends  remarking,  "rather  high 
boys,  'tis  true,  but  they  will  have  'sowed  their  wild 
oats'  soon." 

Marvin  made  answer :  "  Well,  Robert,  I  am  thinking 
how  I  shall  beat  you,  with  the  '  Lady  Alice '  against 
your  '  Black  Warrior,'  in  a  two-mile  heat  to-morrow." 

"No,  you  don't ; — but  I  thought  I  saw  Miss  Walton 


80  ALTHA. 

here  a  moment  ago.  Have  you  spirited  her  away  ?  I 
shall  feel  happier  to  get  a  few  words  from  between  those 
rosy  lips,  or  a  half  smile  from  beneath  those  drooping 
eyelids.  Come,  Marvin,  tell  me  what  you  think  of  her." 

"  Do  n't  ask  me  ;  you  know  I  have  no  fancy  that  way, 
consequently  not  a  particle  of  good  judgement.  But 
Robert,"  continued  Walter,  wishing  to  change  the  con 
versation,  "wasn't  that  joke  at  old  Watty's  well  got  up 
to-day?" 

"  What  was  it  ?  "  inquired  Robert,  a  shadow  passing 
over  his  handsome  features,  as  though  he  regretted  to 
have  the  subject  uppermost  in  his  mind,  of  Miss  Wal 
ton's  accomplishments  and  attractions  passed  over  so 
lightly. 

"  Why,  you  know  Lem  Brown ;  he  was  lounging  as 
usual,  in  Watty's  shop,  bragging,  and  quizzing  the  little 
barber.  '  Come,  Watty,'  said  he,  '  I  want  to  lose  a  V ; 
can 't  you  contrive  some  way  to  win  it  ? '  He  then  told 
the  barber,  that  if  he  would  sit  upon  a  chair,  and  move 
his  body  from  side  to  side,  neither  smiling  nor  speaking 
if  spoken  to,  constantly  repeating,  '  Here  I  go,  Watty 
barber — a  dunce,'  for  half  an  hour,  he  should  have  the 
five  dollars. 


ALTHA.  81 

"  First  one  customer,  then  another,  dropped  in,  and  the 
hubbub  soon  reached  that  part  of  the  building  where 
his  family  were,  when  all  came  rushing  in,  screaming 
'Watty!  Mr.  Watty!  what  is  the  matter?  Speak  to 
us !  Surely  he  is  demented  ;  clean  gone  out  of  his 
mind ! ' 

"  The  wife  wrung  her  hands  and  tore  her  hair,  and 
the  neighbors  added  no  small  share  of  words  and  ques 
tions,  which  increased  the  confusion ;  but  there  sat  Watty, 
as  grave  as  a  judge,  with  a  perfect  fool's  expression, 
moving  from  side  to  side,  half  singing  or  draAvling, 
'Here  1  go,  Watty  barber  —  a  dunce,'  until  the  thirty 
minutes  were  up,  to  a  second,  then,  springing  up,  he  re 
sumed  his  natural  shrewd  countenance  and  position, 
claiming  his  money,  and  he  got  it,  too.  We  all  exer 
cised  our  lungs  quite  freely,  and  I  think  it  will  be  a 
good  lesson  to  one,  at  least,  of  these  inveterate  bragga 
docio,  who  are  always  troubled  with  a  surplus  of  funds." 


CHAPTEE   XI. 

WALTER  MARVIN  possessed  a  very  high  opinion  of  his 
own  abilities,  if  we  would  read  his  thoughts  as  he  turned 
to  the  company,  we  should  find  them  like  this  :  — 

"  Well,  Marvin,  I  think  you  '11  do.  How  opportune 
that  story  to  put  all  thoughts  of  Miss  Walton  out  of 
Robert's  head  !  I  could  n't  think  of  giving  him  my 
opinion  concerning  that  dainty  parcel ;  I  mean  to  exam 
ine  the  bill  of  sale  myself." 

These  thoughts  are  an  index  to  the  character  of  the 
man ;  though  careless  and  unprincipled,  he  could  talk 
and  appear  well,  if  disposed  to  forget  his  horses  and 
champagne,  both  of  which  he  delighted  in.  He  often 
played  the  agreeable  to  the  ladies  in  the  most  approved 
and  flattering  style,  and  he  now  improved  every  oppor 
tunity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  Altha,  which  inti 
macy  soon  ripened  into  friendship  and  love.  High  were 
her  hopes  and  light  her  heart  contemplating  her  future 
prospects.  The  object  of  her  fondest  wishes  was  to  find 


ALT  HA.  80 

one  to  love  and  trust,  a  strong  arm  to  lean  upon,  a  wise 
head  to  guide,  with  a  hearfc  full  of  sympathy  to  cheer 
and  hless. 

As  she  stood  beside  Marvin  at  the  altar,  so  calm,  so 
firm  and  statue-like,  her  soul  whispered  her  hope, — its 
prayer  for  a  happy  peaceful  life,  believing  all  would  end 
well.  Once  a  deep  gloom  rested  upon  her  features, 
with  a  momentary  appeal  that  God  would  bestow  upon 
her  wisdom  and  strength  to  fulfil  every  duty  of  a  wife. 
Strange  anomaly,  that  a  gentle,  shrinking,  trusting 
nature  often  conceals  strong  passions,  as  a  soul 
fearless  and  unflinching  in  the  hour  of  danger  and 
adversity,  —  calm,  faithful,  enduring  in  the  path  of 
right. 

Altha  removed  with  her  husband  to  a  distant  city, 
where  he  engaged  in  a  lucrative  business.  Grand  and 
beautiful  scenery  surrounded  their  elegant  cottage  upon 
the  banks  of  the  Hudson.  Altha  indeed  felt,  that  no 
lovlier  spot  could  have  been  selected  for  her,  and  her 
heart  was  full  of  happiness  as  her  dwelling  abounded 
in  comforts  and  luxuries.  "  God  is  good,"  she  mur 
mured,  while  a  tear  of  adoration  filled  her  eyes  and 
glistened  upon  the  long  fringed  lids.  Then  her  thoughts 


84  A  L  T  H  A . 

would  rest  upon  her  husband,  who  was,  in  truth,  her 
greatest  idol,  so  great  was  her  confidence  in  him, 
(Altha  knew  very  little  of  him,)  she  would  forget 
his  love  might  not  always  he  to  her  "  an  abiding  city," 
nor  this  world  her  home. 

The  city,  as  it  proved,  furnished  too  many  attractions 
for  a  man  of  his  unsteady  habits.  Too  many  jovial 
companions  were  hunting  him  up,  which  ended,  not  only 
in  the  neglect  of  his  business,  but  the  oft-repeated  story 
of  the  vanishing  of  happy  dreams  of  wedded  life. 

" Austin,  where  is  Mr.  Marvin  to-day?"  intcrogated 
Mrs.  M.  of  the  clerk,  going  up  to  the  desk,  while  wait 
ing  in  the  store  to  select  some  articles  for  herself. 

The  accountant  hesitated,  then  replied  somewhat 
abruptly,  "  He  was  in  the  bowling  saloon  an  hour  ago." 

The  hot  blood  mounted  to  Altha's  cheek,  then  receded, 
leaving  her  pale  as  marble;  rallying,  she  inquired 
pleasantly,  "  How  do  you  get  along  in  the  store?" 

Austin  thought,  "I  may  as  well  give  her  a  hint  of 
what  is  coming,"  and  he  told  her  of  the  dissatisfaction 
of  the  clerks,  and  that  every  thing  was  going  wrong. 
Altha  stood  in  deep  thought,  then  continued,  "  I  will 
do  what  I  can  tp  repair  my  husband's  negligence.  I 
can  assist  you  with  the  books  and  papers,  both  here  and 


A  L  T  H  A .  85 

at  the  house,  and  you  can  devote  more  of  your  time  to 
your  fellow  clerks,  and  perhaps,  cheer  them  with  your 
counsel  and  assistance."  Austin  regarded  her  Avith 
surprise.  "  I  trust  you  will  not  refuse,  because  I  have 
no  right  to  ask  you  to  do  so,  neither  is  it  in  my  power 
to  offer  you  more  wages.  I  think  I  have  not  been  mis 
taken  in  my  judgment  of  your  character,  that  you  will 
do  all  in  your  power  for  your  employer." 

Austin  bowed ;  "  Excuse  me,  madam,  if  my  silence 
appeared  uncourteous.  It  strikes  me  you  look  rather 
delicate  for  the  task  you  propose  for  yourself." 

"0  do  not  fear  for  me.  'Where  there  is  a  will, 
there  's  a  way,'  "  she  added,  smiling,  "  I  will  come  in 
to-morrow  morning  and  look  over  what  you  have  for  me 
to  do." 

Austin  stood  looking  after  her  as  she  passed  out  of 
the  store. 

"  What  a  pity  ;  I  fear  all  her  energy  cannot  save  the 
concern.  I  have  heard  of  woman's  wit,  but  have  not 
much  faith  to  believe  it  will  prevent  affairs  here  going 
by  the  board." 

With  a  sad  air  he  resumed  his  pen,  and  began  adding 
a  column  of  figures  upon  the  page  before  him.  Austin 
was  an  excellent  young  ma'n,  and  one  well  qualified  for 


86  ALTIIA. 

his  situation,  to  which  he  had  arisen  by  his  own  per 
severing  efforts,  and  now,  instead  of  forgetting  the  dark 
hours  of  his  early  life,  having  overcome  all  obstacles, 
he  was  more  sensitive  and  full  of  sympathy  for  the  mis 
fortunes  of  others.  Marvin  felt  no  little  chagrin  and 
annoyance  when  his  wife  entered  upon  her  new  duties 
as  a  clerk.  He  would  much  rather  fail  through  her 
extravagance  than  his  own  neglect.  However,  her  in 
fluence  instilled  new  life  into  every  one,  which  she  con 
tinued  to  exert  for  three  years.  Her  husband  now 
more  frequently  than  ever,  extracted  large  sums  of 
money  from  the  drawer  or  desk,  which  made  it  impossi 
ble  to  meet  payments.  Mrs.  Marvin  applied  to  Marvin 
the  elder,  knowing  her  father-in-law  could  rondo  r 
assistance,  as  her  husband  often  said,  "  in  advance  of 
the  fortune  for  him  in  the  perspective."  The  old  gen 
tleman  replied: — 

"  MY  DAUGHTER:  — 

"  Sorrowfully  I  perused  your  letter,  and  though  you  endeavor  to 
hide  his  faults  with  shame  and  confusion,  I  can  see  it  is  owing  to 
his  delinquencies  that  you  are  necessitated  to. ask  for  assistance. 
For  your  sake  I  enclose  a  check  for  fifteen  hundred  dollars  ;  I 
would  rather  you  would  keep  it  for  your  own  use  ;  yet,  if  you 
choose  to  make  one  more  effort  to  continue  the  business,  you  have 
my  permission  to  use  it  as  you  will,  and  may  God  bless  you. 

"  Yours  with  esteem, 

M.  M." 


ALTHA.  87 

Duly  the  letter  was  received,  and  Mrs.  M.  wept  tears 
of  joy  over  it,  and  thanked  Heaven  that  for  the  present 
she  were  spared  from  seeing  her  husband  more  openly 
disgraced,  and  she  herself  spared  greater  anxiety  and 
trouble.  And,  as  Austin  approached  the  desk,  she 
pressed  the  letter  between  her  two  hands,  convulsively 
exclaiming,  "  Precious,  precious  news  ;  we  are  saved  ! " 
and  waiting  to  see  Austin  enclose  the  money  and  direct 
it  to  one  of  their  creditors,  a  firm  in  New  York,  lock  it 
in  the  safe  and  put  the  key  in  his  pocket,  she  returned 
home  to  enjoy  a  few  hours  rest  and  quiet.  Marvin 
entered  the  store,  as  his  wife  passed  out,  and  walking 
up  to  the  clerk  demanded  the  key,  which  Austin  very 
reluctantly  yielded  to  him.  In  a  moment  Austin 
thought  of  the  money  letter,  and  catching  up  his  hat, 
walked  to  the  desk  with  a  view  to  get  it,  but  Marvin 
already  held  it  between  his  thumb  and  finger,  examin 
ing  it. 

"  Sir,  I  am  going  to  the  express  office,  and  will  take 
that  letter." 

"  Not  so  fast,"  rejoined  Marvin,  with  all  the  coolness 
imaginable.  "  I  choose  to  examine  it  first." 

Austin  stood  for  a  moment  irresolute,  eyeing  his  em- 


88  ALTHA. 

ployer  askance,  not  daring  to  say  anything  to  arouse 
his  suspicion,  still  pondering  how  to  get  the  letter. 

"  It  is  high  time  the  letter  was  there,  and  I  am  wait 
ing  for  it." 

"  Well,  go  about  your  business,  I  will  attend  to  the 
letter." 

"  Sir,  you  cannot  have  it,  you  have  no  right  to  take 
my  letters,  nor  examine  them,  so  hand  over  quick." 

"  How  now,  Impudence  ?  Do  you  say  truly  that  this 
letter  belongs  to  you,  and  the  contents  concerning  your 
own  affairs  ?  " 

Austin  was  strongly  tempted  to  tell  an  untruth,  and 
thereby  save  his  employer.  Marvin  observed  him  hesi 
tate.  "  Ha  !  the  fellow  wo  n't  compromise  his  integrity. 
Feels  too  nice,  too  proud,  to  deceive,"  thought  the  man, 
inwardly  pleased,  while  he  regarded  his  clerk  with  a 
savage  scowl. 

"  Mr.  Marvin  I  wrote  that  letter  and  have  some  in 
terest  in  its  contents." 

"  Well,  then  I  will  hand  it  to  the  express-man,  I  am 
just  going  past  the  office ; "  and  he  chuckled  with  satis 
faction  as  he  strode  independently  forward,  thrusting 
the  letter  into  his  hat  as  he  walked. 

An  hour  later  Mrs.  M.  sought  her  chamber  to  deposit 


ALTHA.  89 

her  precious  child,  who  was  fast  asleep  in  her  arms,  in 
its  little  rose-wood  crib,  so  delicately  draped  with  heavy 
lace  curtains  and  rose-tinted  spread ;  on  returning  from 
the  store,  instead  of  seeking  her  own  rest,  which  she  so 
much  needed,  she  must  soothe,  caress  and  care  for  the 
wants  of  her  little  girl,  and  then  look  after  the  dinner, 
in  order  that  everything  should  he  prepared  to  suit  the 
fastidious  notions  and  appetite  of  her  husband.  She 
had  deposited  her  lovely  burden  upon  its  snowy  pil 
lows,  kissed  the  white  lids,  with  their  long  fringes 
closing  so  gently,  and  the  rosy  pouting  lips,  and  folded 
the  dimpled  hands,  fairer  than  alabaster,  over  the  deli 
cate  bosom ;  with  the  tiiiy  shoulders  peeping  out,  and 
lovingly  shaded  by  the  golden  curls.  Truly,  the 
mother's  heart  might  grow  fond  as  she  watched  her 
cherub  child.  Turning  around,  she  beheld  her  husband 
seated  very  coolly  near  the  window,  with  an  open  letter 
in  his  hand,  she  walked  slowly  to  his  side,  for  with 
every  opportunity  she  sought  to  speak  pleasant  words, 
hoping,  in  time,  to  win  him  to  his  own  interests  and 
right  feelings. 

A  gleam  of  pleasure  had  lighted  his  heavy  features, 
when  his  eye  first  fell  upon  his  wife  as  she  entered  the 

room  bringing  in  the  child,  with  the  thought  that  they 
go 


90  A  L  T  H  A . 

were  all  liis  own,  which  gave  place  to  a  different  one, 
contradictory  of  pride,  often  terribly  cruel  and  cutting 
to  the  gentle  nature,  who  would  have  wished  to  look  up 
to  him  as  one  capable  of  guiding.  He  noticed  the 
caresses,.  "  Pshaw !  she  loves  the  child  better  than  me ; 
'tis  for  that  she  labors,  not  for  me.  Thank  heaven  I 
can  take  care  of  myself;  I  do  n't  need  any  help.  If  I 
had  n't  them  to  maintain,  and  this  expensive  establish 
ment,  I  might  do  something ;  I  wish  I  could  get  out  of 
it.  I  am  not  to  blame  for  her  loving  me,  and  she  mar 
ried  me  because  she  chose  to,  probably.  I  don't  see 
why  she  might  not  work  as  well  as  other  women.  This 
denying  myself  everything,  to  keep  up  this  expensive 
living,  'tis  awful,  I  can't  stand  it  much  longer." 

The  man  forgot,  entirely,  that  he  had  done  nothing 
but  spend  all  the  profits  of  the  store,  for  nearly  three 
years,  wearing  his  wife  out  with  care  and  anxiety. 
Truly,  he  was  an  injured  man,  "  it  cost  so  much  to  keep 
his  wife  and  child  and  house." 

"  Any  news  this  morning  ?  "  she  asked  very  cheer- 
fully. 

11  No,"  was  the  gruff  reply,  and  he  shook  off  her  hand 
which  she  had  rested  upon  his  arm,  and  pushed  her 
back  a  stop  quite  rudely. 


ALTHA.  91 

Tears  sprung  to  her  eyes,  and  she  forced  them  back. 
She  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  open  letter ;  her  heart 
misgave  her,  and  she  reached  forward  as  though  to  take 
it.  He  sprung  up  and  held  it  tantalizingly  ahove  her 
head. 

"  Do  let  me  look  at  it ;  you  know  I  never  troubled 
you  before  in  this  way." 

Unlucky  expression  !  —  if  she  had  troubled  him  more 
and  been  more  exacting,  he  would  have  valued  her 
more  highly.  He  was  sick  of  the  gentle,  patient,  en 
during  love.  It  seemed  so  simple,  so  foolish,  he  tried  to 
fancy  he  had  a  right  to  be  disgusted  with  it ;  that  he 
was  disappointed  in  the  piquant  temper  he  thought  he 
had  won,  who  was  to  blame  ?  —  whose  cold,  sneering 
words,  whose  cruel  neglect  and  rude  treatment,  had 
crushed  out  the  soul,  tamed  the  once  proud  spirit.  Al- 
tha,  where  now  are  your  bright  dreams  of  happiness,  of 
truth,  friendship,  and  love?  Where  now  the  cherished 
thoughts  ?  Are  their  flowers  all  dead  —  their  fires 
gone  out  ?  Their  smouldering  ashes  have  indeed  bur- 
ricd  the  soul,  —  a  wreck  of  hopes  and  fear  ;  one  attri 
bute  alone  remains  —  to  love.  How  the  weary,  fainting 
spirit  would  enliven  and  bloom  again  beneath  the  sun- 


92  ALT II  A. 

shine  of  reciprocal  affection.  He  lowered  the  paper 
within  her  reach ;  she  caught  it,  and  gave  one  look ; 
her  heart  died  within  her,  for  it  was  the  identical  letter 
in  which  she  had  enclosed  the  check,  over  which  had 
been  breathed  so  many  anxious  thoughts 'and  hopeful, 
thankful  prayers. 

"  Where  is  the  money  ? "  gasped  Altha,  confronting 
her  husband  and  pointing  to  the  letter. 

He  returned  her  gaze  with  a  daring,  malicious  smile, 
suddenly  grasping  her  by  the  throat,  "  There ;  take 
that  for  your  meddling." 

The  hot  blood  rushed  to  her  brain,  blinding  and  suf 
focating  her ;  the  livid  lips  parted,  and  the  delicate 
frame  trembled  and  quivered  with  the  stifling,  pent-up 
agony.  Poor,  injured  Altha!  she  clasped  her  hands 
and  raised  them  feebly  towards  her  angry,  passionate 
husband,  lover,  and  friend,  for  whom,  and  for  whose 
dear  love  she  had  given  up  friends,  ease,  quiet,  happi 
ness  and  enjoyment.  The  selfish  and  strong-hearted 
may  speak  harshly,  and  scorn  the  loving  woman  who 
bears  meekly  her  cheerless  lot,  and  exclaim,  "She 
ought  to  have  known  better  ;  I  could  have  told  her,  if 
she  had  listened  to  me,  that  he  was  not  worthy  of  her." 

That  simple  act  of  Altha's  recalled  him  to  himself, 


ALTHA.  93 

or  the  sudden  storm  of  fury  had  spent  its  force,  for  he 
loosened  his  fingers,  half-buried  in  the  white  flesh,  and 
she  staggered  forward  and  remained  a  long  time  sup 
ported  by  the  low  couch  against  which  she  had  fallen  ; 
darkness  was  all  around  her,  even  the  lamp  of  reason 
had  flickered  and  seemingly  gone  out.  Marvin  reached 
a  chair  and  sat  down,  pale  and  faint  with  the  obtruding 
fear  of  what  he  had  done.  Pride  forbade  him  to  ren 
der  her  any  assistance,  lest  she  should  think  he  had  re 
lented  his  cruel  act.  Slow  and  painful  was  her  awaken 
ing  to  consciousness,  as  wearily,  fitfully  the  eddying  life 
current  again  circled  through  its  wonted  channels. 
She  raised  her  eyes,  and  there  sat  her  husband,  regard 
ing  her  with  a  cold  calculating  look.  A  tear  dropped 
from  those  long  lashes,  then  another  and  another,  which 
she  brushed  away  until  they  could  not,  would  not  be 
controlled,  and  showered  down,  threatening  to  engulf 
the  spirit  in  a  flood  of  bitterness. 

"Why  do  you  weep?  your  tears  make  me  mad," 
sounded  harshly  on  her  ear,  coming  from  the  stoical 
being  sitting  in  her  presence.  With  an  effort  she  arose, 
bathed  the  burning  eyelids  and  laved  the  flushed  and 
aching  brow.  Striving  to  be  calm,  and  with  an  un- 


94  A  L  T  H  A . 

steady  step,  she  reached  her  husband's  side,  and  kneel 
ing  with  clasped  hands  raised  imploringly ;  her  voice 
was  hushed,  hut  her  eye,  her  attitude,  was  all  a  prayer, 
pleading  for  love  and  protection.  He  felt  for  a  moment 
constrained  to  fold  his  arms  around  her,  to  rest  her 
head  upon  his  hosom,  and  promise  to  love  and  cherish 
her  as  he  had  never  done.  But  his  evil  genius,  which 
he  had  drank  from  his  brandy  flask,  had  not  entirely 
left  him ;  enough  remained  to  crush  out  each  latent 
throb  of  manliness  and  humanity.  He  arose  and  walked 
coldly  away. 

Altha  leaned  her  head  upon  the  chair  near  her ;  it 
seemed  as  if  some  rude  hand  had  crushed  her  heart  and 
soul,  and  rending  them,  had  cast  them  away  for  ever. 

"Altha,"  said  her  husband  returning,  "enough  of 
this  ;  you  know  I  hate  such  scenes.  I  did  not  hurt  you, 
that  you  need  make  such  ado.  Let  me  tell  you  once 
for  all,  I  will  not  bear  it,  and  if  you  love  me  or  ever 
did,  you  would  do  differently  ;  you  would  obey  me.  I 
want  you  to  go  away  from  here ;  I  too,  am  going.  I 
care  not  where  you  go.  I  cannot  support  such  extrava 
gance.  Leave  me ;  I  can  take  care  of  myself,  and 
wherever  I  go,  remember  you  cannot  come." 


ALT  HA.  95 

Altha  remained  petrified  as  the  cruel  language  was 
uttered. 

"  Do  you  hear  me  ? "  continued  he ;  "  then  speak. 
Will  you  obey  me?  Remember  you  are  mine,  and 
bound  to  do  as  I  wish.  Will  you  go  ?  " 

"  No  ;  O  no  ! "  and  she  sprung  forward ;  "  where  could 
I  go, — what  could  I  do?  I  will  not  leave  you,  though 
you  are  unfeeling  and  cruel.  You  have  no  right  to 
throw  me  upon  the  cold  charity  of  a  heartless  world." 

"  Ha,  ha  !  but  you  shall  go  now,  and  hark  ye,  if  you 
need  assistance,  perhaps  Austin  will  write  to  your 
friends,  and  beg  for  help,"  and  thrusting  his  hands  into 
his  pockets,  he  walked  carelessly  from  the  room. 


CHAPTEE  XII. 


"  Alas !   0  alas  !   for  the  trusting  heart, 

When  its  fairy  dream  is  o'er, 
'   When  it  learns  that  to  trust  is  to  be  deceived, — 
Finds  the  things  most  false  where  it  most  believed,- 
Alas  !  for  it  dreams  no  more." 


SOME  hours  later  Altha  was  aroused  from  her  resting 
place  upon  the  floor,  where  she  had  lain  in  a  death-like 
swoon,  since  her  husband  left  the  room,  hy  the  voice  of 
her  darling  child.  Night  had  settled  around  them,  and 
from  the  dark  "blue  firmament,  the  young  moon  looked 
calmly  down,  tracing  giant  shadows  with  its  pale  sepul 
chral  light. 

Altha  groped  her  way  to  the  crih,  lifted  the  little 
Mataka  in  her  arms,  nestled  the  tiny  form  close  to 
her  bosom,  her  arms  folded  tightly  around  it ;  but  the 
fragile  creature  moved  restlessly,  and  moaned  as  she 
lay.  Mrs.  Marvin  placed  her  hand  upon  the  full  fore 
head  ;  it  was  flushed  and  burning ;  the  coral  lips  were 
parched  and  thirsty.  The  frightened  mother,  pressing 


ALTHA.  97 

her  child  more  closely,  flew  swiftly  along  the  dark  pas 
sages  to  the  dining  room,  where  the  waning  gaslight 
threw  around  its  fitful  glare.  Preparing  the  simple 
remedies  near  at  hand,  then  lighting  her  nurse-lamp, 
sat  down  to  watch  by  the  little  sufferer,  now  soothing, 
now  rocking  it,  then  walking  with  it  to  and  fro,  through 
the  long  hours  of  that  fearful  night.  The  child's  nurse 
was  absent,  and  for  many  days  the  anxious  mother 
watched  beside  her  darling,  and  attended  her  with  un 
ceasing  care,  giving  her  every  thought  as  freely  as  she 
would  have  given  all  of  life,  to  mitigate  its  suffering, 
and  who  will  say  this  affliction  was  not  sent  by  an  all- 
wise  Parent,  to  save  the  reason  and  hope  of  that  con 
fiding  soul,  which  had  been  so  ruthlessly  injured,  its 
pure  love  thrown  back  to  wither  and  die. 

The  mother  kissed  her  convalescent  babe,  who,  with 
cherub  smiles,  turned  its  arms  around  her  neck,  with  the 
loving  helplessness  of  babyhood. 

Hark  !  the  tramp  of  men  in  the  vestibule  and  heavy 

footsteps  ascending  the  stairs  startled  Altha.    She  looked 

out  upon  the  street  below  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the 

unusual  disturbance,  but  started  back,  shame  and  con- 

9 


98  ALT  HA. 

fusion  mantling  her  cheek  and  brow,  and  tingling 
through  every  nerve. 

What  moved  her  thus?  The  red  flag  of  the  auc 
tioneer  waved  from  a  window  of  the  drawingroom,  and 
soon  the  long-articulated,  wavering  sound  of  "going, 
going,  gone,"  was  borne  upward,  awakening  in  her 
heapt  echoes  of  departed  comforts. 

Mrs.  Marvin  turned  pale  as  the  crowd  drew  near, 
with  rude  jests,  noisy  tramp,  and  prolonged  laughter, 
which  seemed  to  mock  the  fallen  fortunes  of  the  "game 
of  life."  Here  was  the  petty  dealer  in  cast-off  wares, 
jostling  among  the  busy  throng  of  economists,  covet 
ing  the  luxurious  appurtenances  around  them.  Her 
own  room  was  thrown  open  and  in  rushed  the  little  mul 
titude,  followed  by  the  knight  of  the  hammer  and  his 
attentive  clerks. 

Our  heroine  rose  to  repel  the  intruders,  but  sank  back 
again  reluctantly,  on  meeting  their  rude  gaze. 

"  How  much  am  I  offered  for  this  antique  escritoir 
of  the  finest  rosewood,  inlaid  with  silver  and  pearl, — 
quite  a  gem.  How  much  am  I  offered  ?  —  how  much  ?  " 

Mrs.  Marvin  forgot  her  reluctance  to  encounter  the 
rude-  stare  of  the  bystanders,  and  sprung  forward  to 


ALTHA.  99 

arrest  the  sale.  Her  voice  trembled,  yet  her  bearing 
was  cold  and  energetic. 

"  Sir,  can  I  not  be  spared  this  indignity  ;  why  do  you 
intrude  within  my  private  apartments  ?  " 

"  Am  sorry,  madam,  to  disturb  you.  But  the  law 
must  have  its  course." 

"  This  escritoir  was  my  mother's  dying  gift  to  me, 
and  who,  who  would  rob  me  of  the  cherished  souvenir 
of  my  childhood,"  glancing  around,  in  her  excitement, 
hoping  to  read  the  sympathy  she  wished,  —  nearly  every 
article  in  the  room  were  the  gifts  of  dear  friends. 

The  man  hesitated.  "  My  orders  were  to  take  all. 
Why  did  you  not  secure  these  things  ?  " 

"The  noise  of  your  entrance  is  the  first  notice  I  have 
had  of  this  misfortune." 

"  Ugh  ! "  and  the  man  drew  a  long,  hard  respiration 
between  his  teeth.  "  Have  you  no  friend  who  will  come 
to  your  assistance  and  bid  in  these  articles  ?  I  might 
go  over  the  other  rooms  and  give  you  more  time." 

"  No ;  none  that  I  have  a  right  to  intrude  upon, 
within  hundreds  of  miles." 

"  Strange,  strange.  Madam,  I  can  do  but  little.  I 
am  more  and  more  surprised  at  every  step.  I  had  no 


100  ALTHA. 

thought  of  finding  such  a  splendid  place,  and  most  of 
all,  a  lady  here." 

The  conversation  was  carried  on  in  an  under  tone, 
which  was  here  interrupted  by  a  rough,  impatient  voice, 
fearful  of  losing  "a  bargain"  upon  the  many  artistic 
gems,  and  decorations  of  a  ladies'  boudoir.  "  Is  this  to 
be  a  sham  sale?  if  not,  go  on,  our  time  is  precious." 

"  Lost  to  the  feelings  of  humanity,"  thought  Altha, 
as  those  harsh  tones  vibrated  upon  her  ear,  and  she 
drooped  meekly,  as  a  lamb  led  to  the  slaughter,  the 
faint  rising  hope  dying  away  'mid  the  chills  of  despair. 

"  Lady,  I  fear  I  must  go  on  with  this  unpleasant 
duty,"  and  he  drew  his  hands  across  his  eyes. 

Altha  snatched  up  her  child,  and  folding  her  arms 
around  it,  fled  from  the  room,  to  hide  in  some  isolated 
corner,  where  she  might  remain  undisturbed. 


CHAPTEE  XIII. 

"Alas  !  the  sun,  whose  dawning  beam 

Was  full  of  hope  and  gladness, 
Sends  daily  back,  its  parting  gleam 
On  cloud,  and  storm,  and  sadness." 

MARVIN  returned  to  his  desolate  home,  to  meet  the 
sad,  imploring  gaze  of  his  wife,  no  cheerful  fire  "burned 
in  the  polished  grate,  the  rooms  cold  and  dreary,  the 
bare  walls  and  dusty,  uncarpeted  floors,  met  his  eye 
at  every  step. 

"  Oh  !  my  husband,  I  am  glad  you  have  come,  we 
have  had  no  food,  no  fire,  since  yesterday  morning,  you 
will  bring  us  some  wo  n't  you  ?  " 

"  Where  is  the  money  ?  "  he  asked  gruffly,  not  wish 
ing  his  wife  to  see  how  far  his  feelings  were  touched. 
"  I  can  't  do  anything  without  means,  you  will  know 
now  what  it  is  to  want,  pretty  often,  I  expect." 

"  No,  do  not  say  so ;  you  have  the  ability  to  provide 
for  us,  and  you  will ;  and  I  will  help  you." 

"  But  I  do  not  want  your  help,  you  will  want  it  all 
yourself." 


102  ALTHA. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  am  not  going  to  provide  for  you  with  your 
spirited  airs  and  extravagance.  Come,  get  ready,  and 
let  'a  be  off." 

"Where  will  we  go?" 

"  Where,  why,  to  father's  of  course,  let  him  keep  you 
if  he  has  so  much  sympathy  for  you." 

"  But,  Walter,  I  did  not  complain  to  him ;  it  was  be 
cause  I  loved  you  so  well,  that  I  wanted  to  help  you, 
when  I  knew  how  things  were  going." 

"  Yes,  yes.  I  understand,  you  know  everything,  doubt 
less  you  know  enough  to  get  rid  of  your  husband  en 
tirely  ;  I  '11  not  interfere ;  so  get  ready  and  let's  be  off. 
Ha !  love  me,  I  do  'nt  want  her  to  love  me,  the  little 
fool,  she  'd  let  me  take  out  her  soul,  and  drink  up  her 
life,  if  'twould  make  me  happy.  I'd  rather  have 
a  virago  who  would  put  me  over  the  road.  I  should 
make  a  better  man  if  she  would  assert  her  rights,  and 
forget  love  entirely.  No,  I  do  'nt  mean  that ;  God 
knows  I  could  weep  rivers  of  tears  and  blood,  almost, 
if  I  could  undo  all  the  evil  I  have  done.  But  she  shall 
not  see  it,  for  she  would  conquer,  and  might  rule  me 
ever  aftea"  And  with  this  flattering  unction,  he 


ALT  II  A.  103 

quieted  and  put  back  the  better  feelings  of  his  heart, 
and  turned  away  to  prepare  for  his  journey. 

Without  a  tear,  without  a  murmur,  Altha  viewed*, 
each  cherished  token  which  had  fallen  beneath  the  re 
lentless  hammer  of  law  and  justice,  which  swallowed 
all  in  the  whirlpool  of  destruction.  What  poverty  now, 
what  disgrace  could  add  to  the  one  dark  thought,  like 
the  "  skeleton's  tramp,  tramp,  going  down  to  the  dead," 
that  her  husband  had  forgotten  both  her  and  himself. 
Her  eye  lighted  with  a  new  gleam  of  sunshine,  as  her 
glance  rested  upon  the  forgotten  escritoir,  which  the 
auctioneer,  exercising  his  right  for  the  occasion,  had  re 
served  for  himself.  When  he  had  finished  his  exciting 
task,  and  wiped  the  perspiration  from  his  forehead,  he 
sought  Mrs.  Marvin,  and  told  her  he  had  left  it  for  her. 

"How  shall  I  thank  you  for  this  kindness  to  a 
stranger  ?  " 

"  0,  you  need  not  mention  it ;  I  have  a  family  of  my 
own,  and  if  you  are  ever  able  you  may  pay  for  it,  if  not, 
all  right." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  repay  you  with  now,  and  lan 
guage  seems  but  a  feeble  expression  of  my  gratitude  ; 
may  God  in  Heaven  bless  you  and  yours." 

The  man  turned  away  with  a  heavenly  light  shining 


104  ALTHA. 

from  out  those  usually  cold,  grey  eyes,  and  lie  mur 
mured  as  lie  walked,  "  when  I  have  nothing  left  to  give, 
I  should  not  wish  to  live  any  longer,"  and  the  angel  of 
good  fanned  his  hot  brow,  and  whispered  peace,  peace, 
thou  hast  well  done. 


CHAPTEK  XIV. 

"  There  is  strength 

Deep  bedded  in  our  hearts,  of  which  we  seek 
But  little  till  the  shafts  of  Heaven  have  pierced 
Its  fragile  dwelling.     Must  not  earth  be  rent 
Before  her  gems  are  found  ?  " 

MRS.  HEJIANS. 

THE  golden  sands  in  Time's  crystal  glass,  had  num 
bered  days,  weeks  and  months,  while  Altha  seemed 
gaining  fresh  energy  with  every  new  incentive  to  exer 
tion.  She  taught  the  "  village  school ; "  made  delicate 
garments  for  her  friends,  and  translated  foreign  litera 
ture  for  the  press.  Still  more  than  all  else,  she  yearned 
for  her  husband's  love  and  sympathy ;  once  gained,  her 
proud,  fearless  spirit  would  on,  on,  laboring  unceasingly 
to  raise  him  even  to  the  highest  pinnacle  of  honor  and 
distinction.  Not  so  with  Marvin,  his  was  a  pusillanimous 
nature,  whom  a  breath  of  sarcasm,  or  a  word  of  ridicule 
from  an  associate,,  could  turn  him  from  the  noblest  pur 
pose.  And  while  the  wine  flowed  freely  and  sparkled 
in  the  tall  glasses,  he  drained  them  deeper  and  deeper, 


106  ALTHA. 

to  still  the  small  voice  of  his  better  self,  which  would 
cry  out  against  the  assassin  of  the  soul. 

"  Why  do  'nt  you  send  Walter  to  the  gold  regions  ?  " 
said  the  friendly  Doctor  Hartwell  to  the  elder  Marvin, 
"  much  better  than  loafing  around  here,  my  boy  would 
go  any  way." 

"  Yes,  I  thought  he  came  near  going  without  your 
consent." 

"  Just  so ;  but  I  forgave  him,  he  has  such  a  roving 
disposition  and  I  fitted  him  out  at  last ;  here  comes 
your  son.  Ah !  how  do  you  do,  my  boy  ?  "  said  he,  ad 
dressing  Walter.  "  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from 
my  'Tave,  in  California ;  tke  prospect  is  he  '11  make 
money  about  as  fast  as  he  's  a  mind  to.  Why  don  ;t 
you  start  and  try  your  fortune,  you  are  a  '  chip  of  the 
old  block '  here,  and  I  presume  you  would  do  well. 
There  's  a  new  steamer  just  ready  to  start,  or  will  be 
on  the  twentieth.  They  want  active  business  men  out 
there,  and  you  would  do  well." 

"  My  dear  sir  I  would  go,  but  have  not  the  funds, 
and  do  not  see  any  opening  for  me  in  these  parts  at 
present." 

"  My  son,  as  much  as  I  regret  such  necessity,  if  you 


ALT  HA.  107 

wish  to  go,  I  will  furnish  the  means,  and  trust  you  will 
do  better." 

A  scowl  flitted  across  Walter's  brow  as  his  father  con 
cluded,  saying  aside,  "Always  reminding  me  that  I 
have  not  done  well.  I  am  provoked  enough  never  to 
try  again." 

There  now,"  exclaimed  the  light-hearted  son  of  JEscu- 
lapius,  who  smiled  at  his  own  shrewdness,  in  managing 
to  get  Walter  out  of  the  way,  to  save  his  friend  further 
disgrace  ;  "  get  your  traps  ready,  my  son,  and  I  '11  bear 
you  company  to  York,  and  see  you  safely  stowed  away 
in  a  snug  berth,  as  I  am  going  there  to  transact  some 
business  for  my  dear  boy." 

'  0,  -when  I  am  stricken,  and  my  heart, 
Like  a  bruised  reed,  is  waiting  to  be  broken, 
How  will  its  love  for  thee,  as  I  depart, 
Yearn  for  thine  ear  to  drink  its  last  deep  token.' 

"  How  I  should  have  mourned  and  murmured  to  have 
buried  my  boy  in  his  childhood,  and  he  so  promising 
then  :  he  was  all  my  pride,  my  greatest  treasure  ;  but 
now  he  has  borne  me  down  with  care  and  sorrow, 
and  my  hair  has  bleached  before  its  time."  Thus  solil 
oquised  the  elder  Marvin,  as  he  leaned  upon  his  gold- 
headed  cane,  and  looked  sorrowfully  from  one  of  the 


108  ALTHA. 

gothic  windows  of  his  brown  cottage  over  the  beauti 
ful,  tasteful  grounds  surrounding  it.  "But  to  send  him 
away  into  a  land  of  strangers,  wilh  no  one  to  care  for 
or  watch  over  him  in  sickness  or  death,  seems  like  con 
signing  him  to  a  living  grave.  Poor  boy  !  sometimes  I 
almost  fear  I  half-spoiled  him  by  being  over  indulgent 
Perhaps  I  was  not  sufficiently  watchful  and  careful  con 
cerning  his  habits  and  disposition.  God  forgive  me,  but 
I  was  too  proud  of  the  boy,  and  thought  I  would  not  be 
too  severe  with  h^  little  faults,  and  that  all  would 

come  right." 

o         o         o         o         o         o         o         o 

"Altha,  I  tell  you  you  cannot  go." 

"  Say  not  so,  my  husband.  I  cannot  endure  that  you 
should  go  alone.  Who  knows  but  I  might  prove  the 
bright  star  of  your  destiny.  Do  unsay  that  cruel  sen 
tence." 

"  No ;  what  could  I  do  with  you  there  ?  so  dry 
your  eyes  and  go  to  bed  ;  you  need  not  sit  up  for  me  ;  I 
am  going  to  the  hotel  to  meet  some  of  my  old  chums, 
and  may  not  be  home  to-night." 

She  intercepted  him  as  he  proceeded  to  the  door,  and 
standing  partly  against  it,  made  one  last  appeal,  saying 
"Will  you  not  let  me  go  ?  0,  do  not  leave  me  and  go 


ALT  HA.  109 

alone ;  for  if  you  suffer,  I  would  be  near  to  cheer  and 
asskt  you.  Let  me  go,  that  I  may  to$,ch  our  child  to 
revere  and  bless  her  father."  She  had  laid  her  hand 
lightly  upon  his  arm  in  the  earnestness  of  her  pleading, 
but  he  shook  it  off,  and,  moving  her  from  the  door, 
strode  on,  looking  back  to  say, 

"  Once  for  all,  I  tell  you  that  you  cannot  go.  Still," 
he  continued,  though  speaking  to  himself,  "  I  shall  feel 
disappointed  if  she  does  not,  go,  but  I  wish  she  would 
not  ask  me,  for  it  arouses  me  to  torment  her.  I  believe 
the  fiends  possess  me  to  thwart  her,  but  she  loves  me  so 
wildly,  so  devotedly,  I  wonder  she  don't  hate  me ;  no 
fear  of  that ;  I  wish  she  would,  for  a  change." 

Mrs.  Marvin,  on  entering  her  daughter's  room  some 
hours  afterwards,  found  her  heart-sick  and  despairing, 
—  no  gleam  of  hope  lighted  up  the  dark  future  j  the 
fires  of  confidence  and  faith  in  aught  of  earth  seemed 
to  have  died  out.  She  was  looking  upon  life  with  the 
chilling  apathy  of  despair  ;  but  Altha  knew  not  herself, 
knew  not  her  own  heart.  She  was  at  last  constrained 
to  admit  the  equity  of  her  mother's  counsel,  and  say  no 
more  to  her  husband  about  accompanying  him,  but 

cheerfully  prepared  everything  for  his  comfort.     She 
10 


110  ALTHA. 

brought  forth  her  little  purse,  and  added  it  to  his,  even 
to  the  last  dollar  of  her  own  earnings. 

A  family  group  was  gathered  in  the  hall  to  speak 
the  farewell  word;  but  as  Walter  Marvin  glanced 
around  upon  each  familiar  face  and  form,  his  heart 
sank  within  him,  and  he  felt  the  cool  indifference  and 
stoical  expression,  which  he  had  assumed,  would  leave 
him  at  this  trying  moment.  Altha  saw  the  'glance  of 
fear  and  pain,  and,  comprehending  his  feelings,  sprang 
forward,  taking  the  long  cashmere  scarf  from  her  neck, 
threw  it  over  his  shoulders,  and  hanging  her  own  heavy 
shawl  on  his  arm,  cautioned  him  to  be  careful,  pointing 
to  their  child,  then  putting  up  that  pretty,  loving 
mouth,  gave  him  a  parting  kiss,  which  he  returned ; 
when  coldly  bowing  to  the  remainder  of  the  group  and 
waving  his  hand  for  an  adieu,  rushed  from  the  hall, 
down  the  steps,  and,  springing  into  the  coach,  the  door 
closed  with  a  sharp  clang ;  crack  went  the  whip,  and 
away  whirled  our  adventurer,  without  casting  one  look 
behind. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

' '  Within  her  heart  was  his  image, 

Clothed  in  the  beauty  of  love  and  youth,  as  she  last  beheld  him, 
Only  more  beautiful  made  by  his  death-like  silence  and  absence. " 

LONGFELLOW. 


"  PERHAPS,  my  friend,  it  is  as  you  say  ;  my  wild  im 
passioned  love  for  him  has  proved  a  curse  ;  yet  I  will 
not  strive  to  sever  the  chain  that  has  bound  me  ;  I  will 
not  break  my  wedded  vows,  for  they  were  voluntarily 
spoken.  You  need  not  grieve  for  me  ;  '  the  heart  may 
bleed,  and  bleed,  and  brokenly  live  on.' " 

"  0,  Altha,  think  of  our  long  friendship,  and  take 
my  advice.  Think  of  your  beauty,  your  talents ;  think 
of  the  elevated  position  you  might  fill  in  society  ;  think 
of.  your  child — the  lovely  Mataka,  —  and  forget  him. 
Let  the  law  (a  very  convenient  mentor  in  such  cases) 
absolve  your  vows,  and  fancied  duties." 

"  No,  Laura  ;  highly  as  I  value  your  friendship,  vain 
and  futile  your  efforts  to  turn  me  from  my  purpose. 
As  well  might  you,  with  your  delicate  arm,  attempt  to 


112  ALTHA. 

hurl  from  their  firm  foundations  the  granite  boulders 
which  crown  the  hoary  summit  of  Mount  Washington, 
we  admired  so  much  while  standing  "beneath  their  giant 
shadows  last  autumn." 

"  0,  Altha,  do  he  persuaded  to  give  up  your,  I  must 
say  it,  foolish  faith,  and  prepare  to  go  to  Washington 
with  us.  Ah !  here  comes  the  postman  with  a  letter." 

Altha  arose  to  receive  it.  It  was  postmarked  "  Cali 
fornia,"  and  the  superscription  was  in  a  strange  hand. 
Nervously  she  tore  open  the  envelope,  and  hastily  run 
over  the  contents  :  — 

"  SACRAMENTO, . 

"  MADAM  :  — 

"At  the  request  of  Mr.  Marvin  I  write  to  inform  you  that  he  is 
ill,  and  cannot  recover  except  •with  the  most  watchful  care  and  at 
tention.  He  has  suffered  much  already,  and  is  likewise  destitute 
of  funds  and  friends.  . " 

Altha  dropped  the  letter,  a  film  gathered  before  her 
eyes ;  the  life-blood  seemed  chained,  stagnant,  turned 
to  stone.  Laura  snatched  up  the  letter,  then  threw  it 
away  in  disgust,  exclaiming,  "  I  had  hoped  it  was  all 
over  with  him ;  but  no  such  good  fortune.  He  seems 
bound  to  live,"  and  she  set  about  restoring  her  friend 
to  consciousness 


CHAPTEE    XVI. 

"  Angels  from  friendship  gather  half  their  joy." 

AXTHA'S  early  friend,  the  splendid  and  accomplished 
Laura  Lord,  now  the  wife  of  Arthur  Yale,  was  reclining 
half-huried  in  the  damask  velvet  cushions  of-  her  luxu 
rious  couch,  her  'broidered  handkerchief  crumpled  and 
tear-stained,  indulging  in  the  unfashionable  luxury  of 
a  good  cry  ;  she  heeded  not  the  entrance  of  her  kind- 
hearted  husband,  who  bent  over  her  with  a  look  and 
tone  of  endearment. 

"What,  dearest,  are  you  still  grieving  for  the  way 
ward  Altha  ?  I  saw  the  steamer  gliding  proudly  o'er 
the  sparkling,  foaming  water,  bearing  on  ocean's  trea 
cherous  bosom  our  treasures." 

"  O,  I  can  but  weep  to  lose  her ;  and  it  does  seem 
like  insanity  or  tempting  Providence,  for  her  to  dare 
the  horrors  of  sea  and  greater  horrors  of  land,  and 
brave  fortune  among  strangers  and  savages." 

"  Do  not  grieve  for  her ;  she  thought  she  was  doing 
her  duty." 


114  AI.THA. 

"  But  I  am  out  of  all  patience  with  such  devoted, 
self-sacrificing  wives." 

"If  there  wei'e  more  of  them,  dearest,  they  would 
redeem  the  world." 

"  Fie  upon  you ;  say  rather,  if  there  were  more  such 
romantic  women,  your  sex  would  become  all  tyrants, 
and  ours  all  fools." 

'Squire  Vale  laughed,  "  Marriage,  you  know,  is  a  lot 
tery,  and  those  who  win  the  prizes  are  the  least  capable 
of  appreciating  them." 

"  Well,  well,  Arthur  ;  I  had  hoped  Altha  would  have 
been  cured  by  this  time,  of  her  penchant  for  her  worth 
less  husband,  and  that  we  should  have  had  her  one  of 
our  party  this  winter." 

The  light-hearted  husband  hummed  the  fashionable 
opera  air  ";Tis  better  to  laugh  than  be  sighing,"  add 
ing,  "So  please  don  this  satin  embroidered  drapery, 
which  you  call  a  cloak,  and  this  tiara  of  gems,  and  let 
us  away  to  barn  one  lesson  of  life,  and  the  charms  of 
'  la  belle  passion,'  from  the  thrilling  drama  of  to>-night ; 
the  audience  will  be  the  ton,  the  scenes  are  new,  and 
the  music,  it  is  said,  divine.  Then,  '  away  dull  care ' ; 


ALTHA.  115 

a  truce  to  sorrow  with  him  who  goes  to  show  a  beautiful 
wife." 

"  All  things  have  a  begining  and  an  end,  and  I  must 
shut  my  ears  and  heart  to  the  counsel  of  dear  friends 
and  pursue  the  path  of  duty,  and  trust  a  heavenly  wis 
dom,  which,  oft  '  behind  a  frowning  Providence,  hides  a 
smiling  face/ "  mused  Altha,  as  the  steamer  bore  her 
swiftly  over  the  darkling  water. 

Thus  ends  the  manuscript. 

"Well,  Ethan,"  said  Halvor,  at  their  next  meeting, 
"  WLat  has  this  long  story  to  do  with  your  gold-digging 
and  subsequent  return  to  this  city?  I  might  fancy 
that  you  met  this  Mrs.  Marvin  —  quite  a  paragon  "of 
perfection,,  and  out  of  respect  to  her,  married  some 
of  her  numerous  acquaintances." 

"  Ha,  ha  !  I  '11  not  let  you  off  so  easily,  since  you 
have  enlisted  to  follow  the  woof  of  my  adventures,  I 
intend  to  keep  you  traversing  the  labyrinthian  walks  of 
dull  and  tiresome  detail." 

"  Ah,  Ethan !  I  see  you  have  not  forgotten  that  I 
used  to  vote  every  one  a  bore  who  made  long  prosy 
speeches  ;  but  proceed  ;  I  am  all  attention." 

"  Purchasing  a  Mexican  pony,  I  started  for  the  city 


116  ALTHA. 

of  Sacramento,  resolved  to  court  fickle  dame  Fortune  in 
that  vicinity  as  preferable  to  '  the  diggins.'  But  I  found 
myself  incapable  of  any  great  exertion,  from  the  effects 
of  an  intermittent  fever  and  occasional  chills,  in  conse 
quence  of  exposure  to  all  kinds  of  weather,  and  sleep 
ing  upon  the  ground  in  our  numerous  journey  ings  and 
scoutings  across  the  country.  Accommodations  were 
none  of  the  best :  the  rude  dwellings  we  were  forced  to 
occupy  were  crammed  almost  to  suffocation  with  human 
beings,  who  left  me  to  suffer  alone  during  the  day,  and 
at  night,  wrapped  in  my  blanket,  had  to  contend  for  my 
right  to  a  place  on  the  rough  and  dusty  floor  of  the 
domicile,  along  with  some  thirty  others. 

"Don't  laugh  at  the  agreeable  picture,  Halvor:  like 
Esau  of  old,  I  would  have  '  sold  my  birthright '  for  a 
glass  of  pure  cold  water,  a  luxury  then  not  to  be 
thought  of.  Soon  the  great  fire  broke  out,  which  laid 
nearly  the  whole  city  in  ashes,  A  conflagration  in  a 
great  city  is  frightful — terrible  ;  but  there,  where 
shelter  and  comforts  were  so  scarce,  it  was  doubly 
trying. 

"  The  fire  broke  out  so  suddenly  in  the  night,  and 
spread  so  rapidly,  that  I  had  barely  time  to  escape  Avith 


ALTHA.  117 

life.  I  saved  from  my  stock  of  valuables  only  one  pair 
of  duck  pants  and  one  flannel  shirt.  Casting  a  look 
among  the  many  groups,  who,  like  myself,  were  watch 
ing  the  devouring  element  rioting  upon  the  spoils,  leav 
ing  thousands  shelterless  and  half-clad,  I  noticed  a 
rude  couch,  covered  with  canvass  which  supported  an 
invalid  gentleman,  and  beside  him  a  fine,  though  care 
worn  looking  woman,  in  vain  endeavoring  to  shelter 
him  from  the  sweeping  currents  of  air ;  one  arm  encir 
cled  a  little  girl  some  five  years  of  age,  who  clung  to 
her,  almost  convulsed  with  fear.  Accident  and  misfor 
tune  readily  make  acquaintance,  and,  at  that  time, 
fashionable  conventionalities  had  not  been  imported, 
and  ceremonious  punctilios  could  very  well  be  dispensed 
with. 

"  Acting  upon  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  I  stepped 
forward  and  addressed  the  lady,  '  This  is  a  sorry  place 
for  an  invalid.' 

"  She  turned  toward  me  with  a  look  as  frank  and  free 
as  though  she  had  known  me  all  her  life.  '  It  is,  in 
deed  sir,  and  I  know  not  where  to  find  the  poorest 
shelter.3 

"I  conjectured  she  was  from  '  the  States ;'  evidently  a 
lady,  and  tacitly  installed  myself  their  guardian  pro 


118  ALTHA. 

tern.  A  lady  from  home,  in  that  wilderness  world,  was 
a  ram  avis;  for  the  confusion  and  jargon  at  the  Tower 
of  Babel,  could  not  have  been  even  a  priming  to  that 
around  us.  1  found  two  men  who  were  stopping  to 
breathe,  having  exhausted  themselves  contending  with 
the  fire-demon,  inch  by  inch,  the  ground  and  property. 
They  assisted  me  to  remove  the  rude  couch  some  hun 
dred  yards  beyond  range  of  the  fire,  where  we  remained 
sheltered  by  the  walls  of  a  rude  board  and  mud  house, 
hemmed  in  by  the  crowd  of  houseless  beings  until  morn 
ing.  For  an  exorbitant  price,  we  obtained  permission 
next  day  to  occupy  a  small  portion  of  a  very  small 
room.  From  Mrs.  Marvin,  (for  by  that  name  she  intro 
duced  her  husband  to  me,)  I  learned  that  she  had  left 
the  States,  with  one  thousand  dollars  in  her  purse,  to 
attend  upon  her  husband,  who  was  suffering  from  a  pro 
tracted  illness,  from  which  I  saw  no  chance  for  him  to 
recover. 

"  The  prices  we  had  to  pay  for  everything  pertaining 
to  comfort,  even  for  a  cup  of  water,  bid  fair  to  exhaust 
the  remainder  of  her  funds  as  well  as  mine,  and  aroused 
us  to  discuss,  very  often,  the  important  theme,  what 
was  she  to  do.  For  several  days  I  went  '  house-hunt 
ing,'  hoping  to  obtain  more  comfortable  quarters,  and 


ALTHA.  119 

judge  my  surprise,  when  one  day,  upon  returning  to  re 
port  progress,  I  found  standing  near  Marvin  and  bending 
over  him,  a  person  robed  as  a  monk  or  priest.  For 
nearly  all  of  that  class  I  had  met  there,  wore  pretty 
much  the  same  costume.  His  ugly  cowl  hid  his  features, 
as  the  looae  cassock  tied  around  the  waist  with  a  hempen 
cord,  hid  his  form.  I  drew  hack  having  no  great  re 
gard  for  this  papistical  sect.  Mrs.  Marvin  had  observed 
me,  and  motioned  me  to  come  forward;  I  did  so.  Her 
smile  at  the  moment  was  so  pleasant  and  inviting,  I 
quite  forgot  my  feelings  of  reluctance  to  come  in  con 
tact  with  the  priest.  He  was  conversing  with  the 
invalid  ;  the  tones  of  his  voice  were  so  clear,  so  musical, 
and  he  spoke  in  such  an  honest  manner,  that  I  began  to 
listen  with  pleasure,  not  unmixed  with  curiosity.  He 
seemed  to  understand  all  the  discomforts  of  our  situa 
tion  without  a  word  or  glance.  I  subsequently  learned 
he  was  familiar  with  such  scenes. 

"  '  My  daughter,'  said  he,  addressing  Mrs.  Marvin, 
'  you  require  better  accommodations  for  your  husband 
and  child.' 

"  I  now  proceeded  to  inform  them  that  I  had  found  a 
room  somewhat  better  than  their  present  abode,  which 


120  ALTHA. 

they  might  take  immediately.  The  monk  bowed,  then 
continued : 

" '  My  daughter,  I  have  a  ranchero  some  distance  from 
here,  where  you  can  have  quiet,  which  is  needful,  both 
for  your  husband  and  yourself.  With  your  permission 
I  will  send  a  conveyance  for  your  family  to-morrow.' 

"  While  Mrs.  Marvin  was  expressing  her  thanks,  I  was 
wishing  that  I  might  take  the  liberty  of  excusing  them 
from  accepting  his  charity,  although  I  knew  how  much 
they  stood  in  need  of  any  assistance  thai  would  be 
offered  them.  I  could  form  no  opinion  of  him,  for  his 
head-gear  shaded  all  of  his  countenance  except  the 
eyes,  his  long  white  beard  which  fell  heavily  upon  his 
breast,  and  a  few  straggling  locks  of  bluish  white  hair. 
At  last  he  accosted  me ;  '  My  son,  you  will  accom 
pany  them  if  you  please ;  you  will  be  welcome.'  I 
bowed  in  token  of  acquiescence,  not  liking  over  much 
the  idea  of  this  friendship,  and  not  wishing  to  leave  the 
party.  Raising  his  folded  hands  as  though  giving  us 
his  blessing,  he  passed  on  his  way,  leaning  on  his  strong 
oaken  staff.  My  thoughts  went  out  after  him  in  no 
very  charitable  manner ;  the  wily  Priest,  thought  I, 
surely  has  some  design  in  this,  or  why  should  he 
Belect  our  party  from  out  the  throng  of  sufferers  the 


ALTIIA.  121 

late  disastrous  conflagration  has  utterly  ruined,  and 
those  of  his  own  church  too.  My  sainted  father,  '  honor 
to  his  memory,'  would  call  it  one  of  the  '  leadings  of 
Providence.'  The  invalid  turned  aside  as  though  he 
would  rest.  I  glanced  at  Mrs.  Marvin,  who  seemed  to 
interpret  my  thoughts,  '  certainly,  my  friend,  we  need 
fear  no  temporary  harm,  nor  apprehend  anything 
serious  for  the  future ;  his  is  simply  a  mission  of 
charity.' 

" '  I  hope,  madam,  your  affirmation  will  prove  correct ; 
I  see,  like  many  of  your  sex,  you  are  trusting,  and  un 
suspicious  accordingly  ;  much  as  I  dislike  to  be  indebted 
to  this  man,  or  monk,  I  will  make  one  of  your  '  retain 
ers  '  for  the  present.' 

" '  Thank  you !  thank  you  !  0,  how  can  we  ever  repay 
you  for  all  you  have  done  for  us.  I  am  indeed  very, 
very  grateful.  May  God  bless  and  reward  you.' 

"  Our  preparations  for  removal  were  speedily  made ; 
yet,  how  were  we  going?  The  priest  had  said  he  would 
send  for  us.  I  was  restless  and  uneasy,  for  it  seemed 
like  making  a  leap  in  the  dark,  and  made  many  vague 
speculations  as  to  the  result.  At  an  early  hour  next 
morning,  I  took  up  my  station  outside  the  rude  dwelling 
with  my  hands  in  my  pockets  and  broad  sombrero  pressed 


122  ALT  HA. 

hard  over  my  eyes,  gloomily  intent  upon  watching  the 
scene  around  me.  All  was  confusion,  a  perfect  chaos. 
Cattle  of  every  description  were  wearily  moving  along, 
singly  and  in  pairs  and  dozens  fastened  together,  loaded 
with  timber,  stone,  sand  and  every  procurable  material 
for  building.  "Worn  and  jaded  mules  and  pack-horses 
loaded  with  provisions  and  comforts,  for  such  as  could 
procure  them.  Workmen,  with  loud  voices  and  cease 
less  jargon,  were  planning,  framing  and  putting  up 
new  buildings  over  the  blackened  fragments  and  dying 
embers  of  the  former  ones.  Busy  laborers,  interspersed 
with  groups  of  half-clad  sufferers,  wading  through  mud 
and  debris,  thirsting  for  a  cup  of  water,  or  famishing 
for  bread,  presented  an  exciting  picture,  which  cannot 
be  easily  imagined  or  described. 

"  The  clang  of  the  hammer,  the  crash  of  falling  tim 
ber,  mingled  with  the  ceaseless  clamor  of  unknown 
tongues,  presented  a  stirring  picture  to  our  friend 
Ethan,  who  declared  the  confusion  at  the  Tow*v  of  Babel 
would  not  have  been  a  circumstance  to  it 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

"  Hast  thou  not  known 
The  priceless  value  of  a  real  friend  ? 
If  thou  hast  such,  if  thou  hast  a  true  friend, 
Who  is  all  worthy  of  thy  confidence 
In  whom  thou  canst  impose  implicit  trust, 
Use  such  a  one  with  all  due  gentleness." 

"  HALVOR  you  know  we  made  up  our  minds  never  to 
be  surprised  at  anything ;  "but  I  was  a  trifle  started  as 
a  dark,  ferocious  looking  Mexican,  mounted  on  a  Hack 
horse  drew  rein  opposite  me,  leading  a  splendid  Jennet, 
light  of  foot  and  fleet  as  an  antelope,  splendidly  capari 
soned.  The  bridle  was  richly  studded  with  silver  and 
gold,  and  the  blanket  thrown  over  it,  was'  elaborately 
wrought,  by  the  hand  of  some  high-bred  Spanish 
maiden,  with  gay  colors,  of  birds  and  flowers,  and 
strange  devices,  interspersed  with  stars  and  crosses  of 
gold.  A  net  of  solid  silver  wire  ornamented  its  head 
and  ears,  which  was  also  of  Mexican  workmanship.  A 
short  distance  in  the  rear  was  another  horseman, 
mounted  like  the  first,  carrying  a  cushion  in  front  of 


124  ALTHA. 

him,  and  leading  a  more  powerful  charger,  having  a 
simple  bridle  and  blanket  of  untanned  hide  ;  next  fol 
lowed  several  mules  and  half-savage  looking  men,  as 
runners,  carrying  between  them  a  large  willow  basket, 
shaped  like  a  cradle,  and  constructed  with  two  strong 
handles  upon  each  side. 

"  The  splendid  Jennet  was  allotted  to  Mrs.  Marvin, 
with  the  swarthy  Spanish  attendant,  the  charger  for  my 
self,  and  the  robber-looking  man  with  the  cushion,  appro 
priated  little  Mataka  to  himself;  while  the  sick  man 
was  gently  removed  to  the  willow  cradle,  well  furnished 
with  cushions  and  blankets,  and  a  screen  was  raised  over 
him,  forming  quite  a  novel,  though  comfortable  convey 
ance  for  an  invalid.  Our  little  cavalcade  set  forward, 
greatly  surprised  at  the  novelty  of  our  situation  and 
the  comfortable  provisions  for  our  journey.  Our  ride 
was  through  a  romantic  and  charming  country.  The 
scenery  was  constantly  changing  from  the  lovely  and 
beautiful,  to  the  grand  and  sublime  ;  now  passing  roll 
ing  undulations  covered  with  forest  trees,  shrubs  and 
vines ;  now  riding  leisurely  over  beautiful  plains 
covered  with  grass  and  a  thousand  varieties  of  spark 
ling  flowers.  We  stopped  to  rest  occasionally,  and  par 
take  of  some  refreshment  which  had  been  provided, 


ALTHA.  125 

consisting  of  dried  beef,  preserves  and  wine,  cold  water 
and  fruit  being  offered  us  at  many  rancho's  at  which 
we  halted,  (procured  by  some  mysterious  influence  of 
our  guide.) 

"Afar  to  the  west,  shrouded  in  gorgeous  golden 
drapery,  the  sun  was  fast  sinking  to  his  accustomed 
rest,  below  the  dark  belt  of  the  distant  horizon ;  while- 
bird  and  insect  had  commenced  their  evening  songs  of 
worship,  warning  the  weary  traveller  homeward  to  find 
shelter  from  the  gathering  dew.  For  miles  in  front  and 
around  us,  was  spread  out  the  beautiful  ravennos, 
where  herds  of  cattle  and  horses  were  grazing  ;  but  yet, 
no  signs  of  human  habitation.  We  approached  a  slight 
elevation  covered  with  forest  trees  of  sycamore  and  lin 
den,  mingled  with  the  never  ending  red-wood  and 
stunted  oak,  interspersed  with  dark  grey  rocks  and 
luxuriant  flowing  vines.  0,  how  we  longed  for  the  end 
of  our  ride  ;  as  we  wound  around  the  brow  of  the  hill, 
I  was  just  getting  together  my  little  stock  of  Spanish 
to  question  our  guides,  when,  as  if  from  instinct,  our 
horses  halted,  and  we  were  dismounted  upon  a  beaten 
path  beneath  the  trees ;  following  our  guide,  the  way 
was  soon  intercepted  by  a  tangled  hedge-row,  impene 
trable  it  seemed,  as  a  Mexican  chapparcl  Luxuriant 


126  ALTHA. 

masses  of  grape  vines,  pride  of  the  prairie,  and  honey 
suckle,  hung  over  the  hedge.  Our  fatigue  was  for 
gotten  ;  our  weary  eyes  opened  wide  with  wonder  and 
curiosity,  as  Mrs.  Marvin's  attendant  lifted  and  put 
back  a  curtain  of  vines,  and  we  passed  through  upon 
the  other  side.  We  passed  through  gardens  of  choice 
fruits  and  flowers,  seemingly  of  all  that  grew  in  Eden, 
spread  out  around  us,  our  way  often  interrupted  by  the 
jangled  hedge  of  willow  or  evergreen,  when  the  magic 
of  our  guide  unveiled  the  way  by  raising  one  of  the 
primitive  fragrant  curtains.  Surely  we  had  entered 
paradise,  and  stealthily  we  looked  at  one  another  to 
assure  ourselves  we  were  all  there.  Had  I  been  alone 
how  welcome  any  such  adventure  would  have  been  to 
me.  I  would  gladly  have  braved  all  danger  to  explore 
the  mysteries  of  this  mysterious  enclosure ;  but  with  an 
invalid,  a  child,  and  a  lady  for  companions,  I  began  to 
be  filled  with  fear  and  apprehension.  '  This  must  be  a 
hermit's  habitation,'  exclaimed  Mrs.  Marvin,  at  last. 
See,  the  last  vine  curtain  has  dropped  and  we  are  in 
the  monk's  home;  it  consists  of  one  room  formed  of 
saplins  of  oak  and  hemlock  firmly  woven  together  and 
covered  with  clay,  the  roof  is  formed  the  same  as  the 
sides  and  covered  with  tile,  there  was  a  ground  floor 


ALTHA.  127 

having  an  occasional  grey  flag-stone  interspersed,  with 
here  and  there  a  tiny  blade  of  grass  or  flower  peeping 
up  from  the  sides  of  the  stones ;  a  few  stone  seats  and 
a  rustic  bench,  formed  of  the  twisted  saplins,  furnished 
the  room,  with  the  exception  of  a  large  stone  pitcher  in 
one  corner,  filled  with  cold  water,  having  a  stone  drink- 
ing-cup  beside  it. 

" '  Our  friendly  friar,'  continued  Mrs.  Marvin, '  must  be 
very  devoted  in  his  religion  to  live  in  this  pastoral  style.' 

"'Ah!'  I  rejoined,  laughing  slyly,  "we  come  for 
quiet ;  shall  we  not  expire  of  ermui  ?  Can  we  endure  such 
everlasting  quiet? '  She  smiled  as  I  glanced  around,  and 
inquired  what  we  were  to  do  next.  The  wall  or  partition 
of  the  room  rolled  back  a  little  way,  and  the  monk  stood 
before  us,  and  welcomed  us  to  his  humble  habitation. 
The  vaqueros,  (or  servants,)  hastened  forward  with  the  in 
valid,  and  the  man  with  the  sleeping  child  in  his  arms, 
followed  by  Mrs.  Marvin  and  myself.  The  wall  moved 
back  to  its  place,  shutting  out  to  the  unwelcome  or 
chance  visitor,  all  knowledge  of  any  other  rooms  beyond 
that  one.  A  separate  room  was  allotted  to  each  of  our 
party,  and,  taking  possession  of  mine,  I.  sat  down  to 
ruminate.  I  resolved  not  to  sleep  but  watch,  to  see 
what  I  could  find  out,  for  it  was  not  my  principle  to 


128  ALTHA. 

stay  in  a  place  long  until  I  'd  find  some  way  to  get  out 
of  it.     Why  were  our  attendants  so  silent  during  our 
journey.     Why  was  the  house  so  curiously  contrived  ? 
Why  were  the  grounds  a  perfect  labyrinth,  defying  the 
most  curious  ?    Why  were  we  shut  out  from  the  world? 
What  would  be  our  fate  ?     In  vain  I  tormented  myself 
with  similar  questions.     I  pushed  aside  the  vine-leaves 
that  shaded  the  lattice  and  looked  out.     My  vision  was 
bounded  by  those  same  mysterious  hedges,  and  the  pure 
azure  above  me.     I   listened ;  I   heard   a   horse  pass 
swiftly  along,  as  though   upon  a  beaten   track,  then 
another  and  another,  at  short  intervals  ;  what  could  it 
mean  ?     '  Ha  !  I  have  it,'  I  exclaimed,  half  aloud, '  this 
is  the  bandit's  home,  and  the  robber  chief  is  the  Priest 
in  disguise.'     I  examined  my  pistols  and  placed  them 
where   I   could  lay   a  hand   on   them    quicker   than 
thought ;    then   stretched    myself    upon    the   inviting 
couch.     It  was  not  an  iron-barred,  hair-cloth  covered 
one,  said  to  have  been  in  fashion  among  zealous  catho 
lics,  but  a  right  eastern  luxury,  piled  with  cushions  and 
blankets,  and  draped  with  cambric  and  linen.     I  must 
have  slept  soundly,  for  I  was  awakened  by  the  twitter 
of  the  early  birds,  I  sprang  up  and  hastily  completed 
my  toilet,  and  walked  out. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

"  ALL  nature  was  robed  in  her  most  "becoming  ap 
parel;  the  dew  was  sparkling  upon  every  leaf  and 
flower,  tinted,  gemmed  and  gilded  by  the  glorious 
radiance  of  the  rising  sun.  Bright  birds  upon  tree,  and 
hedge-row,  and  every  drooping  sprig,  were  carolling 
their  matin  song  to  the  Creator.  I  stood  lost  in  the  en 
joyment  and  admiration  of  this  beautiful  outer  world, 
all  breathing,  smiling,  happy. 

" '  Only  man,  in  the  plan,  shrinks  from  his  part,'  was 
spoken  in  elegant  Spanish,  by  a  manly  voice  ;  turning 
I  saw  standing  near  me,  as  though  reading  my  thoughts, 
Mrs.  Marvin's  attendant  of  yesterday;  few  traces  of 
the  ferocious  looking  Mexican  were  visible.  He  bowed 
and  went  on  his  way.  At  that  moment  a  gong  sounded 
far  and  wide  upon  the  still  morning  air,  and  from 
bush  and  tree,  rock  and  hollow,  a  hundred  forms  started 
to  life.  They  laved  their  hands  in  the  crystal  water, 
flowing  from  a  rude  stone  trough,  then  entered  a  large 
building  composed  of  unbaked  bricks  and  covered  with 


130  ALTHA. 

tiles,  and  shaded  by  cotton-wood  trees.  This  was  a 
chapel,  where  each  man,  woman  and  child  knelt  and 
went  through  the  ceremony  of  prayer.  I  watched  and 
wondered,  as  one  by  one  they  passed  out. 

"  '  My  son,'  I  looked  up,  the  monk  stood  beside  me, 
'  let  us  go,'  said  he.  We  visited  the  invalid  ;  the  monk 
spoke  a  few  soothing  words  to  him,  administered  a  com 
posing  draught,  as  naturally  as  though  he  had  been 
bred  Jo  the  office  of  nurse,  then  led  the  way  to  the 
breakfast  room,  where  we  enjoyed  a  fragrant  cup  of 
coffee.  We  were  joined  by  Mrs.  Marvin  and  a  beautiful 
Spanish  lady,  all  ease,  grace  and  dignity ;  she  was 
brilliantly  beautiful,  reminding  me  of  a  painting  by 
the  old  masters,  a  perfect,  glorious  looking  woman. 

" '  Senorita  Isabella  Venicia,'  said  the  monk,  taking 
the  stranger  lady  by  the  hand  and  presenting  her.  We 
bowed  after  the  fashion  of  Yankees.  Mrs.  Marvin,  as 
she  came  forward,  poured  forth  her  thanks  to  him,  for 
his  great  kindness  to  herself  and  family,  and  I  was 
about  to  add  something  for  politeness  sake,  when  father 
Anselmo  waved  his  hand  and  dismissed  the  subject,  and 
we  finished  our  meal  nearly  in  silence. 

" '  Have  you  recovered  from  the  fatigue  of  yester 
day  ? '  said  I  to  Mrs.  Marvin. 


ALTHA.  131 

"'Yes,  partially.  Methinks,  'Squire  Eldridge,  you 
arc  early.' 

"  '  Yes;  I  could  scarcely  rest  last  niglit,  I  was  so  im 
patient  to  explore  paradise,  as  you  call  it.' 

"  '  How  do  you  like  it  this  morning  ?  ' 

" '  0  !  better  and  "better.  But  have  you  observed 
the  luxuries  strewn  around  our  rooms  ?  Every  thing  I 
touch,  and  every  thing  I  see,  awakens  a  curiosity  to 
know  more  of  our  host.  What  do  you  think  of  him 
now,  Mrs.  Marvin ;  nothing  ill  of  course  ?  ' 

'"He  is,  no  doubt,  opulent,  educated,  and  a  gentle 
man  ;  there  is  something  about  him,  a  word,  or  a  ges 
ture  it  may  be,  that  reminds  me  of  some  friend  I  have 
known.' 

"  Have  you  no  doubts  or  fears  of  him  ?" 

" '  None,'  she  answered  smiling. 

"  But  I  cannot  say  the  same.  Perhaps  it  is  because 
I  am  better  acquainted  with  human  nature,  that  I  trust 
less  than  you  do." 

"  She  continued, '  last  evening,  after  we  were  shown  to 
our  rooms,  and  I  had  attended  to  the  comfort  of  my 
husband  and  child,  it  was  quite  late  when  I  prepared  to 
take  some  rest,  my  strength  completely  exhausted,  and 


132  ALTHA. 

\vcaricd  Avith  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  I  had  scarcely 
power  to  move,  when  suddenly  I  was  aroused  from  a 
torpor  stealing  over  my  senses,  by  thoughts  of  the 
novelty  of  our  situation,  and  tormented  myself  with 
nameless  doubts  and  fears,  as  I  sat  listening  to  tho 
evening  breeze  whispering  among  the  leaves  that  shaded 
the  lattice,  and  cast  merry,  dancing  shadows  upon  the 
moonlit  floor  ;  then  I  felt  a  presence  near  me,  an  ethe 
real  influence,  which  seemed  to  say,  '  fear  not ;  I  am 
thy  guide ;  I  am  thy  shepherd.  Ee  member  "  not  a  spar 
row  falleth  to  the  ground  without  its  Maker's  notice." 
"  Are  you  not  worth  more  than  many  sparrows  ?  "  Then 
I  felt  ashamed  of  my  uncharitable  thoughts,  and  knelt 
and  prayed,  and  felt  as  though  I  had  heard  it  spoken, 
"  O  ye  of  little  faith."  There  is  one  who  doeth  all  things 
well/" 

" '  I  wish  I  had  your  faith,  but  I  never  can.' 
" '  Do  not  say  that,  my  friend,"  said  she  glancing  at 
me  cheerfully  ;  "  only  ask  for  it  and  it  will  come  to  you. 
But  I  must  go  and  see  if  my  husband  is  awake.' 

"  I  now  began  an  examination  of  the  room.  It  was 
furnished  in  a  style  similar  to  the  others.  There  were 
lounges,  tables,  flower-stands,  feantcau,  and  ottomans 


ALTHA.  133 

together  with  every  imaginable  article  for  comfort,  which 
were  composed  of  knotty,  distorted,  and  twisted  timbers 
of  the  oak  and  redwood,  some  in  its  natural  state,  with 
the  bark  left  on  it,  yet  varnished  and  gilded,  and  look 
ing  very  graceful  and  beautiful.  But  this  was  not  all : 
there  were  luxurious  cushions  heaped  upon  the  floor  of 
embroidered  velvet  and  merino,  window  draperies  of 
linen  and  silk,  shells,  books  and  flowers,  stone  and 
alabaster  pitchers  and  vases,  tipped  and  ornamented 
with  silver,  also  rare  paintings  and  gems  of  art  lying 
in  every  direction.  Stone  and  silver  fountains  of  puro 
sparkling  water  were  in  many  of  the  rooms,  having 
drinking-cups  of  silver  and  gold  attached  to  them  by 
a  chain  of  the  same  metal.  Tiny  fountains  of  rose- 
water  and  silver  cups  of  frankincense  sent  forth  their 
odoriferous  perfume  at  every  step.  In  vain  I  conjec 
tured  how  did  they  get  into  this  uncivilized  land, 
and  who  planned  this  fairy  grot  ?  Out  of  doors  I 
hoped  to  be  more  successful  in  solving  these  questions. 
The  main  building  seemed  to  have  been  built  of  one 
room  at  first,  ono  story  in  height,  (a  copy  after  South 
American  dwellings,  which  are  formed  one  story  in 
height,  for  fear  of  the  tornado,  or  earthquake,)  and  to 


A  L  T  II  A  . 


this  room  had  been  added  wing  after  wing,  and  pilo 
upon  pile,  some  of  the  rooms  having  balconies  running 
around  them ;  then  there  would  be  several  grouped  to 
gether,  presenting  a  singular  and  grotesque  appearance. 
A  hundred  yards  from  the  dwelling  we  occupied,  I  found 
a  number  of  huts  and  tents,  occupied  by  the  retainers, 
laborers  and  vaqucros  belonging  to  the  ranch ;  and  turn 
which  way  I  would,  I  found  one  of  these  tents  or  huts. 
Some  of  them  resembling  pretty  little  cottages,  half 
concealed  by  the  luxuriant  shrubbery,  with  a  small  yard 
of  magnificent  plants  under  cultivation  of  the  females 
of  the  cot.  Some  of  these  tasteful  dwellings  were  sup 
plied  with  a  small  fountain  of  cool  spring  water,  bub- 
ling  up  to  irrigate  their  gardens  and  purify  the  atmos 
phere.  These  little  dwellings  seemed  like  sentry-posts, 
and  the  inmates  all  spies  ;  but  I  judged  them  differently 
upon  longer  acquaintance.  Splendid  horses,  mules, 
deer,  Mexican  dogs,  and  sheep ;  foreign  and  native 
fowls,  with  thousands  of  gay-plumaged  birds  filled  the 
copse  and  covered  the  plains  far  as  the  eye  could  reach. 
There  were  numbers  of  men,  women  and  children,  some 
at  work,  some  lying  idly  and  listlessly  about,  either  in 
the  rank  grass  or  sleeping  upon  the  sunny  side  of  a 


ALTHA.  135 

hedge.  Many  nations  were  represented.  There  was 
the  native  from  the  mountains,  hut  little  removed  from 
the  savage ;  the  dark  and  haughty  Spaniard ;  the 
ruddy-cheeked  heef-eater — for  I  heard  his  authoritative 
tone  exclaiming  '  These  are  not  fine  hedges  ;  you  should 
go  to  England  to  see  fine  hedges.  No  other  nation 
knows  anything  ahout  fine  hedges.'  '  Arra,  an'  hegorra 
ye  '11  he  the  death  o'  me  entirely,'  came  from  the  light- 
hearted  Hibernian  ;  while  '  Yah,  yah ! '  sounded  like  a 
clap-trap  from  one  of  Afric's  shiny-skinned  sons,  laugh 
ing  at  the  jargon  of  the  Yong  Chong  stepping  oddly 
ahout.  How  or  where  our  host  gathered  together  such 
a  motly  tribe,  and  how  he  managed  to  keep  them  was 
beyond  my  comprehension. 

"  I  sought  my  own  quarters  to  inspect  them  more  par 
ticularly.  The  suit  of  rooms  appropriated  to  my  use 
were  furnished  with  the  rustic  furniture  I  have  already 
described,  which  was  ornamented  with  quaint  devices 
of  gold  and  silver  and  gay-colored  landscapes.  Cer 
tainly  it  seemed  as  though  every  kingdom  of  the  world 
had  been  ransacked  to  furnish  the  creature-comforts 
and  rare  gems  of  art  my  eyes  rested  upon.  I  was  oc 
casionally  ashamed  of  my  suspicions ;  everything  seemed 


136  ALTHA. 

so  peaceful,  so  beautiful,  even  the  cool  scented  breeze 
rustled  among  the  vine-leaves  and  lifted  the  window 
drapery,  fanning  me  with  its  rich  breath  and  lulling 
me  to  forget  the  world  with  all  its  cares  and  all  its 
pleasures. 


CHAPTEK    XIX. 

"His  home  was  known  to  all  the  vagrant  train ; 
He  chid  their  wanderings,  but  relieved  their  pain." 

GOLDSMITH. 

"  MY  friend,  you  have  been  exploring  the  grounds,  I 
presume." 

"  Yes,  my  dear  Mrs.  Marvin ;  at  least  I  have  been 
trying  to  do  so." 

"  What  is  your  opinion  concerning  the  place  ?  " 

"  I  scarcely  dare  tell  you  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  think  me  so  weak,  that  I  cannot  bear 
unpleasant  news  ?  " 

"But  it  would  not  relieve  your  mind." 

"  Perhaps  not ;  but  it  will  satisfy  my  curiosity,  which 
is  worth  something." 

"  Well,  there  is,  as  we  remarked  upon  our  arrival,  a 
mystery  connected  with  everything.  Evidently  we  are 
enjoying  the  comforts  of  the  bandit's  home,  or  guests 

of  one  of  the  myrmidons  of  the  Pope." 
12* 


138  ALTHA. 

"  I  agree  with  you  in  thinking  that  many  of  the  peo 
ple  here  are  Catholics,  for  I  heard  the  Ave  Marias 
chanted  during  the  night-watches,  and  at  intervals, 
while  sitting  beside  my  husband,  until  near  morning." 

"  Did  you  not  feel  angry  with  them  ?  " 

"  O  no  ;  I  pittied  them,  because  they  had  not  learned 
to  approach  the  Author  of  all  Light  and  Good,  and 
present  their  petitions  in  a  more  heart-cheering  and 
strengthening  manner,  and  while  they  chanted,  I  felt 
my  own  need  of  gratitude  for  numberless  favors." 

Occasionally  I  sat  beside  Marvin  while  his  wife  en 
deavored  to  take  a  little  rest ;  often,  while  doing  so, 
drawing  comparisons  of  her  amiability  and  devotednees 
to  her  family  ;  and  then  I  would  grow  restless  and  im 
patient  concerning  my  own  inactivity.  However,  I 
allowed  myself  a  great  deal  of  credit  for  looking  after 
strangers,  just  because  they  were  unfortunate,  and  gen 
erally  ended  by  detracting  a  tithe  of  credit  from  the 
priest,  doubting  his  disinterestedness  towards  them. 
Mrs.  Marvin  growing  sadder  and  sadder  every  day,  as 
Father  Anselmo,  who  was  also  physician  in  some  degree, 
gave  his  opinion  that  her  husband  could  not  hold  out 
much  longer.  At  times,  when  he  slept ;  with  hushed 


ALTHA.  139 

voice  and  "  soundless  tread,"  we  gathered  arouncl  his 
bed  listening  breathlessly  to  assure  ourselves  the  weary 
spirit  had  not  flown  from  earth.  At  other  times  we 
listened  to  the  eloquent  lessons  of  heavenly  faith,  conso 
lation  and  soul-stirring  prayers  of  the  priest,  poured 
forth  for  the  dying  man.  At  such  times  he  spake  only 
the  religion  of  the  heart,  and  faith  in  God,  and  no  one 
who  heard  him  would  have  supposed  him  a  professor  of 
popish  sentiments. 

The  sick  man  Avould  listen  apparently  for  a  time, 
then  turn  away,  shutting  his  eyes  as  though  commun 
ing  with  his  own  thoughts,  or  trying  to  sleep.  I  learned 
to  appreciate  that  loving  wife.  She  was  indeed  a  price 
less  treasure ;  and  I  lamented  that  heaven  had  not 
made  such  a  one  for  me.  No  watching,  no  fatigue,  no 
labor,  no  extra  patience  and  gentleness,  seemed  ever  to 
be  thought  of  by  her  compared  with  his  comfort.  No 
weariness,  languor,  or  want  of  exercise  could  induce  her 
to  leave  his  side  except  for  a  few  moments,  and  then,  at 
the  instance  of  the  priest,  whom  she  tacitly  obeyed, 
whether  from  reverence  or  gratitude,  or  that  he  under 
stood  her  better  than  others,  I  could  not  determine. 
Daily  I  visited  the  interior  of  the  chapel,  to  admire  the 


14:0  ALTHA. 

rare  paintings  which  adorned  it.  On  several  occasions  I 
caught  glimpses  of  white  drapery  leaving  the  organ,  or 
gliding  near  the  altar,  which  I  supposed  belonged  to  the 
Spanish  lady  I  had  met  at  table. 

For  hours  I  watched  the  laborers  upon  the  ranchero, 
to  discover,  if  possible,  if  the  Priest  was  truly  the  main 
spring  which  regulated  and  kept  in  order  all  these  peo 
ple.  Some  of  them  would  follow  him,  calling  him 
"  good  Father  Anselmo,"  taking  hold  of  his  robe ;  pray 
ing  for  blessings  upon  him,  and  asking  for  blessings 
upon  themselves ;  in  short,  he  seemed  to  be  their 
divinity. 

Standing  outside  the  chapel,  I  noticed  father  Ansel- 
nio  passing  toward  the  house  by  way  of  a  private  en 
trance,  his  head  bent  forward,  and  his  hands  dropping 
listlessly  by  his  side,  as  though  somewhat  dejected.  I 
ventured  to  accost  him  :  "  Father  Anselmo." 

"  My  son." 

"  Allow  me  to  ask  you  one  question  ?  " 

"  Certainly ;  as  many  as  you  please." 

"  I  wish  to  ask,  what  signifies  the  sign  of  the 
cross." 

"It   signifies   the    incarnation    and    death   of   our 


ALTHA.  141 

Saviour.  But  the  illiterate  make  tlie  sign  to  keep 
away  evil  spirits." 

"  I  may  not  answer,  there  is  no  truth  in  your  asser 
tion  ;  in  their  ignorant  blindness,  they  gain  many  im 
perfect  ideas,  and  it  is  a  great  work  to  make  them  truly 
comprehend  the  things  which  belong  to  their  salvation." 

"  My  son,  do  you  make  inquiries  to  learn  the  way  of 
immortal  life,  or  to  criticise  and  play  the  spy  ?  " 

"  The  spy  !  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  Did  you  not 
invite  me  hither  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  wronged  you,  I  know  you  better.  My  son," 
he  continued,  "  we  were  speaking  of  the  '  sign  of  the 
cross.'  It  signifies  two  principle  mysteries ;  the  Unity 
and  Trinity  of  God,  the  Incarnation  and  death  of  our 
Saviour.  When  we  put  our  right  hand  to  our  head, 
saying  '  in  the  name,'  we  signify  Unity.  When  we 
make  the  sign  of  the  cross,  saying  '  of  the  Father,  of 
the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,'  we  signify  Trinity." 

"  Allow  me  to  say,  sir,  there  is  so  much  mystery  and 
superstition  mixed  up  in  your  religion,  (I  beg  pardon, 
sir,)  in  the  Catholic  religion,  I  cannot  make  it  agree 
with  the  passage,  '  He  that  runs  may  read.' " 

"  My  son,  you  will  doubtless  find  many  things  to  con- 


ALTHA. 

demn  ;  but,  I  am  at  your  service,  and  shall  be  happy  to 
talk  with  you  often  as  you  wish." 

"  But,  sir,"  said  I,  (I  had  adopted  the  title  of  Father 
Anselmo,  because  others  did,  for  politeness  sake ;  but 
now  the  words  would  stick  in  my  throat.)  "  I  shall 
probably  give  you  a  few  of  my  honest  opinions,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  Sir  Priest,  you  will  find  me  quite  a  hea 
then,  as  regards  the  creed  and  ceremonies  of  your 
church." 

"  Your  integrity  and  singleness  of  purpose,  1  think 
will  serve  my  purpose  best." 

"  Indeed.  I  have  heard  that  persons  capable  of  in 
trigue  and  deep  design,  are  chosen  for  the  Pope's  work." 

"  You  misunderstand  me,"  said  he,  his  forehead  flush 
ing  and  drawing  himself  proudly  up,  "  but  no  matter" 
said  he,  now  resuming  the  conversation  with  his 
usual  quiet  tone.  "  I  fear  you  have  met  with  those  pre 
tending  to  be  Catholics,  who  have  given  you  wrong  and 
unpleasant  ideas  concerning  them." 

"  I  have  met  with  those,  with  whom  I  have  thought 
it  a  part  of  their  religion  to  deceive,  even  to  telling  an 
open  and  direct  falsehood;  yet,  these  same  persons 
attended  mass  and  the  confessional,  repeated  prayers 


ALTHA.  143 

and  did  penance  upon  occasion,  calling  all  honest  folks 
heretics." 

"  My  son,  perhaps  you  are  a  trifle  excited  toward 
them.  However,  I  will  take  your  words  for  what  they 
are  worth.  They  shall  not  hurt  you.  You  do  not 
understand  them." 

"  Yet  how  can  I  understand  them,  if  I  may  not  be 
lieve  my  own  observations." 

"  But,  my  son,  you  will  not  he  allowed  to  trust  your 
own  judgment ;  you  must  accept  everything,  believe 
everything,  taught  by  the  church." 

We  walked  on  in  silence,  and  turning  toward  the 
house,  my  companion  entered  without  another  word. 
"  Ah  !  the  wily  Priest,"  I  mused,  "  Perhaps  he  thinks 
he  has  said  enough  for  once.  Yet,  after  all,  I  would 
like  to  become  acquainted  with  him,  there  is  such  an 
air  of  mystery  about  him ;  then  he  is  such  a  scholar, 
so  refined,  so  gentlemanly,  and  charitable  withal.  No 
wonder,  he  colors  when  I  speak  honest  sentiments  or 
scandal  in  such  a  brusque  manner,  no  doubt  they  jar 
upon  his  sensitive  nature. 


CHAPTEE   XX. 

' '  And  Lara  sleeps  not  where  his  fathers  sleep  ; 
But  where  he  died,  his  grave  was  dug  as  deep  ! " 

BYRON. 

1  HASTENED  to  the  invalid's  apartment,  to  assist  Mrs. 
Marvin.  The  angel  of  Death  had  passed  by.  Her 
husband  was  going  a  journey  to  a  far  country.  He 
felt  the  messenger's  icy  breath,  and  shivered.  We 
heard  not  the  language  of  the  spirit,  but  we  traced  a 
ghastly  smile  flickering  around  the  lips  of  the  dying. 
Who  can  witness,  unmoved,  the  death  damps  gathering 
upon  the  brow  of  the  doomed  one  ;  the  keen  anguish  at 
parting  ;  the  last  great  struggle  for  the  fleeting  breath. 
Oh  !  we  would  wish  our  friends  to  fall  gently  '  asleep  in 
Jesus.'  We  stood  silently  around  the  couch,  hushed  our 
very  breathing  that  we  might  watch,  nor  disturb  the 
weary  one.  Oh  !  who  has  not  lost  a  friend  ?  Who  has 
not  some  loved  one  in  that  land  beyond  the  grave  ? 
The  stricken  one  is  kneeling  beside  the  dying,  in  heart 
breaking  agony.  The  last  wild  kiss  unheeded ; — the 


ALT  HA.  145 

last  fervent,  hopeless,  despairing,  embrace  unanswered. 
Cold,  and  chill  the  form  of  the  inanimate  sleeper,  so 
dearly  loved  ;  gone,  gone,  while  we  are  left  to  mourn. 

"  Let  us  pray,"  came  from  the  lips  of  the  priest,  and 
there,  as  one  of  earth's  angels,  he  poured  forth  a  fervent 
supplication  for  the  bereaved  one,  until  the  fountain  of 
tears  was  broken,  and  overflowed  the  bitter  sorrow.  We 
laid  him  down  in  his  narrow  bed  beside  the  chapel, 
where  drooped  the  willow,  and  beneath  which  the  green 
turf  was  gemmed  by  the  tiny  star-flower  of  innocence. 
No  funeral  pomp,  no  senseless  grandeur  disturbed  the 
tranquil  sleeper  ;  no  stately  candles  burned  with  ghastly 
light  within  the  darkened  room,  gloomy  with  pall  and 
shroud,  and  shadowy  drapery.  Wrapped  in  his  mantle, 
he  sleeps  beneath  the  green  turf  in  the  golden  beauti 
ful  valley  of .  Often  at  twilight  we  wandered 

near  the  quiet  spot,  hallowed  by  holy  thoughts  and 
grief-laden  sighs,  and  watered  with  many  a  tear,  and 
thought  to  commune  with  the  spirit  of  our  friend,  who 
had  explored  the  convex  river  of  life  and  death. 

"  The  voyager,"  said  the  priest,  "  glides  smoothly 
along,  gazing  upon  the  crystal  water  ;  in  the  twinkling 

of  an  eye  his  boat  goes  down  upon  the  further  side,  and 
13 


146  ALTHA. 

he  may  not  come  back She  still  clings  to  the 

wild  love  she  has  nurtured  through  long  years  of  sor 
row,"  said  Father  Anselmo,  as  we  came  in  sight  of  the 
new-made  grave. 

There  lingered  Mrs.  Marvin.  Bright  flowers  strewed 
the  green  turf,  and  fresh  garlands  were  laid  upon  the 
altar  of  small  stones  we  had  raised  to  mark  his  resting 
place.  We  drew  near,  and  the  priest  repeated  in  solemn 
yet  sweet  thrilling  tones,  "Sorrow  cometh  with  years, 
and  to  live  is  to  mourn.  As  a  mother  soothes  to  sleep 
the  wail  of  her  troubled  child,  so  death  opens  its  arms 
to  the  vexed  spirit,  and  cradles  in  its  bosom  the  un 
quiet  to  repose.  'T  is  well,"  continued  he,  "  to  visit  the 
graves  of  those  we  loved  in  life ;  we  feel  their  spirit 
presence  near,  and  the  words  we  breathe,  the  prayers  we 
pour  forth  above  the  hallowed  dust  will  flow  back  upon 
our  own  hearts,  and 'enrich  our  inner  life.  My  daugh 
ter,  you  grieve  for  your  lost  earthly  treasure.  I  grieve 
that  the  love  that  joined  us  here  was  not  more  perfect, 
yet  grieve  not  without  hope  of  a  resurrection.  Yes ;  as 
the  Psalmist  says,  the  mortal  shall  put  on  immortal,  and 
the  corruptible  put  on  incorruptible  ;  the  dead  shall  rise 
again  in  newness  of  life." 


ALT  HA.  147 

"Father,"  I  said  drawing  him  a  little  aside, "  I  thought 
your  church  instituted  many  ceremonies  to  he  performed 
over  the  dying  and  the  dead,  even  especial  prayers  to 
he  repeated  to  insure  their  happiness." 

"  Yes ;  pious  Catholics  pray  for  the  souls  of  departed 
friends,  to  pass  them  safely  through  purgatory,  or  limbo, 
as  it  is  called." 

"  And  what  do  you  know  of  any  such  future  state  ?" 

"  Limbo  is  the  state  in  which  the  soul  enters  imme 
diately  after  death.  It  has  seven  degrees  or  spheres ; 
the  eighth  is  the  one  where  the  Eternal  —  the  Holy  of 
Holies  dwells,  and  it  is  concealed  from  our  view  by  a 
thick  veil,  and  we  understand  our  prayers  or  the  prayers 
of  the  church  are  instrumental  in  raising  the  departed 
soul  from  one  sphere  to  another  towards  happiness." 

"  But  I  have  seen  no  prayers  or  masses  said  for  the 
soul  of  our  departed  brother." 

"No;  such  ceremony  could  not  satisfy  the  mind  of 
yonder  mourner,"  said  he,  pointing  to  Mrs.  Marvin, 
"  because  she  has  not  been  educated  in  our  church.  She 
will  not  bow  down  to  worship  inferior  power,  but  only 
the  great  First  Cause  of  all  light  arid  creation.  And 
she  would  chose  to  let  him  sleep,  trusting  his  future  to 


148  ALTHA. 

the  God  she  worships  ;  trusting  the  rarified  spirit  of  her 
husband  lingers  near,  and  perhaps  has  power  to  influ 
ence  her  in  the  present  life." 

"  Do  you  believe  she  is  right,"  I  inquired,  with  con 
siderable  interest. 

"  Let  her  dream  on,  truly,  hers  is  a  happy  religion. 
But  there  is  the  alarm,"  and  he  hastened  forward  to  the 
chapel,  followed  at  a  short  distance  by  the  lady  and 
myself. 

We  entered,  and  stood  a  little  apart  from  the  kneel 
ing  devotees  in  front  of  the  altar. 

The  interior  of  the  church,  although  rudely  con 
structed,  was  tastefully  ornamented  with  flowers,  and  a 
basin  of  holy  water  stood  before  a  statue  of  the  Virgin 
Mary.  Several  choice  paintings  adorned  the  walls, 
which  added  to  the  beauty  and  mystery  pervading  the 
whole,  which  was  darkened  and  shadowy. 

"  How  beautiful,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Marvin,  directing 
my  attention  to  a  painting,  a  representation  of  the 
crucifixion  of  our  Saviour.  "Do  you  not  feel  like 
worshiping  it  too  ? 

"  No ;  though  I  confess  admiration,  almost  adoration 
is  aroused  upon  beholding  an  exquisite  piece  of  art,  and 
I  rejoice  that  man  can  create  the  beautiful  like  this,  it 


ALTHA.  149 

incites  our  emulation,  and  elicits  our  praise.  The 
priest  tells  me  they  are  placed  here  to  incite  a  spirit  of 
devotion  in  those  who  come  to  worship.  But  I  cannot 
agree  with  him  in  all  things  ;  I  do  not  condemn 
the  love  of  the  heautiful;  yet,  I  would  have  them 
pray  to  the  Invisible  Presence  who  hears  our  petitions 
without  money  and  without  price.'  What  do  yonder 
devotees,  before  the  shrine  of  the  Virgin  realize  of  com 
fort  and  happiness,  speaking  in  an  unknown  tongue, 
praying  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  and  imploring  the  saints 
to  present  their  petitions  unto  God,  and  to  think,  that 
with  less  of  labor  than  is  now  bestowed  upon  them, 
they  could  be  taught  the  only  true  way  the  Bible 
teaches,  and  receive  a  greater  amount  of  comfort  and 
happiness.  Father  Anselmo  confessed  to  me,  to-day, 
that  it  was  the  mystery  of  these  forms  and  ceremonies 
that  kept  so  many  of  his  followers  in  subjection.  The 
idea  of  miracles  direct  from  God,  or  a  movement  of  a 
painting,  as  an  oracle  of  the  saints,  could  work  wonders 
upon  the  crude  mind  with  which  he  has  to  deal." 

"  And  did  father  Anselmo  think  himself  acting 
rightly  by  fostering  such  superstition  ?  " 

"No.     I  judge  the  man  revolts  from  the  work;  but 

said  he,  '  we  may  have  no  sentiments,  no  judgment,  no 
13° 


150  ALTHA. 

feelings  of  our  own,  in  opposition  to  the  church.  Think 
for  one  moment  of  the  power  of  the  church,  and  never 
douht  the  almost  utter  impossibility  of  harbouring 
doubts  respecting  her  infalibility,  and  her  efforts  to 
bring  back  the  wavering  disciple,"  and  he  gave  me 
a  wild  look,  which  I  could  not  fail  to  interpret. 

"  I  sec,"  I  returned  in  answer  to  it,  "  how  secretly  you 
work." 

"  You  see,"  he  replied,  gazing  steadily  at  me,  from 
out  those  deep  set  eyes,  "  and  are  you  awake  ?  How  long 
shall  your  watchmen  cry  '  peace,  peace,  when  there  is 
no  peace.'  There  should  be  no  quiet,  inactive,  dreamy 
peace ;  silently  you  should  labor,  '  watch  and  wait ;'  you 
pray  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel,"  said  he,  "  but  whore- 
ever  your  laborers  enter,  do  you  not  find  the  cross 
already  planted  ;  and  are  you  not  slumbering  in  peace 
and  pleasure,  while  the  enemy  is  sowing  tares  in  your 
homes  by  the  way-side,  and  in  the  hearts  you  love  ? 
My  country,  my  country,"  said  he,  rising  and  walking 
energetically  back  and  forth,  with  folded  arms  and 
head  thrown  back,  "  how  long  will  friend  and  brother 
slumber  at  his  post  ?  I  love  thee,  I  love  thee,  and  my 
heart  yearns  toward  thy  rudest  son,"  then  dropping  into 


ALTHA.  151 

a  scat,  as  though  fearful  he  had  said  too  much,  he  sat  silent 
and  the  drops  of  sweat  gathered  upon  his  brow  and  lip. 
There  is  such  a  mystery  about  this  man,  that  he  has 
power  to  move  me  in  conversation  as  few  men  can." 

"  True,  indeed,"  continued  Mrs.  Marvin,  "  and  think 
what  a  life  he  lives,  of  devotion  and  sacrifice  to  religion 
and  charity  ;  is  it  all  for  the  benefit  of  the  church  — 
the  infallible  church,  as  he  terms  it?  Friend,  we  must 
know  more  of  him,  and  his  church  too,"  impressively 
laying  her  hand  upon  my  arm. 

"  No,"  I  returned  ;  "  let  it  alone,  with  all  its  myste 
ries,  with  all  its  hypocrisy,  with  all  its  falsehood,  lest 
one  more  soul  be  added  to  swell  its  bloated  coffers." 

"  But  we  may  work  —  we  must  work,  using  his  own 
implements  of  mystery,  in  favor  of  the  religion  of 
Jesus  and  freedom  of  conscience." 

Her  words  seemed  almost  like  inspiration,  spoken  in 
a  whisper  beneath  those  dim  and  shadowy  rustic  arches. 

"  Here  we  are  plotting  heresy  within  shadow  of  the 
altar  ;  do  you  not  fear  ? "  and  the  sentence  was  barely 
spoken,  when  we  were  interrupted  thus  :  — 

"  My  children  ! "  and  Father  Ansclmo  glided  past, 
giving  us  his  blessing  in  Spanish. 


152  ALTHA. 

"  We  require  no  representations  made  by  man,"  con 
tinued  Mrs.  Marvin,  "  to  reconcile  our  devotion,  if  we  truly 
love  God,  since  he  bids  us  come  unto  him,  and  him  only 
to  receive  the  waters  of  eternal  life,  through  Jesus  our 
redeemer  and  mediator.  We  find  no  place  in  the  Bible 
where  we  are  taught'to  present  our  petitions  to  the  Vir 
gin  Mary,  nor  any  of  the  numerous  saints  who  have 
lived  upon  earth,  wise  and  pious  men  though  they  were, 
who  have  entered  before  us  the  shadowy  temple  of  death, 
and  rested  in  the  cold  silent  grave.  How  cheering  the 
divine  assurance,  if  we  draw  nigh  unto  God  He  will 
draw  nigh  unto  us.  We  may  cast  all  our  cares  and 
burdens  upon  Him,  who  will  lighten  the  load  and  prove 
'a  present  help  in  time  of  need.'  How  sublime  the 
Gospel  revelations  of  light  and  love,  which  shall  make 
the  desert  blossom  as  the  rose.  The  light  which  shines 
upon  us  from  the  cross  raises  our  thoughts  above  the 
cares  and  annoyances  of  a  changeful  existence,  to  con 
template  the  brighter  future,  and  there  is  an  ear  ever 
open  to  listen  to  our  wants,  a  spirit  that  may  be  touched 
'with  a  feeling  of  our  infirmities,'  who  vouchsafes  to 
us  lessons  of  divine  love." 


ALTH  A. 

"  He  must  wear  the  cross  who  wins  the  crown,"  said 
the  priest,  again  standing  beside  us. 

As  we  passed  out,  there  was  borne  upon  the  breeze, 
laden  with  the  perfume  of  the  orange  and  magnolia 
sweet  breathing  strains  from  the  organ  in  the  chapel, 
awakening  rapturous  emotions,  as  reached  our  willing 
ears  the  solemn  chant  — 

"  Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow." 

When  we  were  once  more  seated  in  the  common  par 
lor,  said  Father  Anselmo,  "  Altha,  where  did  you  learn 
your  heresies  ?  and,  at  the  same  time,  where  did  you 
gain  your  information  concerning  the  doctrines  and 
teachings  of  the  church  ?  " 

I  glanced  at  Mrs.  Marvin  ;  she  was  leaning  forward, 
scanning  the  priest  with  an  earnest,  imaginative  glance, 
as  though  she  would  penetrate  beneath  the  cowl  and 
cassock.  I  was  surprised  to  hear  him  address  her  by 
the  name  of  Altha,  wondering  how  he  knew  it,  as  I  had 
never  heard  it. 

£  he  continued  gazing  at  him  with  a  troubled  expres 
sion  until  he  ceased  speaking,  then  her  lip  quivered, 
and  the  tears  she  could  not  repress  filled  her  eyes,  as  she 
walked  to  the  window  to  regain  her  composure.  Father 


154  ALTHA. 

Anselmo  liad  spoken  abruptly,  not  at  all  like  his  usual 
elegant  diction ;  yet  I  saw  nothing  to  frighten  one,  and 
was  thinking  how  nervous  she  was,  when  the  priest 
filled  a  silver  cup  at  the  fountain  and  motioned  me  to 
give  it  to  her. 

She  returned  the  cup  with  a  sad  smile,  reminding  one 
of  some  old  heart-wound  re-opened  by  an  unlucky 
speech.  "Please  excuse  me  to-night,"  said  she,  rising 
to  go,  "  I  will  answer  your  questions  at  another  time," 
and  she  walked  towards  the  door,  the  priest  still  watch 
ing  her  intently.  There  must  have  been  some  potent 
charm  in  his  glance,  for  she  turned  half  round,  bent 
upon  him  that  inquiring  gaze,  then  buried  her  face  in 
her  hands,  and  would  have  fallen  had  he  not  sprung 
forward  and  led  her  to  a  seat.  He  held  her  hands, 
folded  back  the  wavy  hair,  and  bathed  that  classic  brow 
with  a  few  sparkling  drops  from  the  cup,  altogether  ap 
pearing  quite  interested.  I  could  not  view  any  of  his 
movements  without  suspicion,  and  I  sent  a  few  angry 
glances  towards  him,  as  the  thought  entered  my 
brain,  he  is  tryin-g  what  influence  he  can  have  upon  her ; 
he  heeded  not  my  angry  looks,  but  raised  a  silver  shell 
to  his  lips,  and  a  few  notes  from  it  was  answered  by 


ALTHA.  155 

Mrs.  Marvin's  attendant,  and  soon  after  Senorita 
Isabella  entered  and  passing  her  arm  around  Mrs,  Mar 
vin,  very  affectionately  led  the  way  to  her  own  room. 

How  my  hopes,  my  aspirations,  and  bright  dreams 
of  future  happiness  had  "became  interwoven  with  the 
fancy  thread  of  Altha's  future,  as  the  Priest  called  her ; 
there  seemed  to  be  no  sunshine  where  she  was  not.  I 
had  learned  to  love  her  through  her  acts  of  kindness 
towards  others. 

For  several  days  .1  had  been  debating,  in  my  own 
mind,  whether  I  should  take  her  with  me  in  my  perigri- 
natiqns  through  the  country,  or  whether  it  would  be 
wiser  to  locate  at  San  Francisco  until  my  stocks  had 
accumulated  sufficiently  to  return  to  the  States,  where 
we  might  live  quietly  and  cosily,  enjoying  all  the  crea 
ture  comforts  and  amusements  at  hand.  Her  confidence 
in  me  with  regard  to  her  own  plans,  often  put  a  damper 
upon  my  resolution  of  broaching  the  important  subject. 
As  she  left  the  room,  I  felt  more  than  ever  anxious  to 
take  her  away  from  this  mysterious  rancho ;  it  savored 
too  much  of  her  own  quiet,  romantic  disposition,  to 
remain  longer,  not  doubting  her  eagerness  to  go  with 
me.  Thus  I  strode  back  and  forth,  the  soft  matting 
giving  back  no  echo  of  my  hasty  tread ;  notwithstanding 


156  ALTHA. 

Father  Anselino's  kind  hospitality,  I  felt  inclined  to 
quarrel  with*  him  for  his  meddling  influence,  and  as 
blindly  endeavoring  to  trace  effect  to  cause,  I  overleaped 
the  mark  in  my  hasty  conclusions.  I  looked  at  Father 
Anselmo,  he  seemed  perfectly  oblivious  of  my  presence, 
standing  with  his  back  toward  me.  He  lifted  his  hands 
wildly,  striking  his  head  as  though  laboring  under 
powerful  emotion,  then  his  arms  dropped  listlestly  by 
his  side,  he  folded  them  and  walked  the  room  with 
rapid  steps.  Wishing  to  leave  him  undisturbed,  I 
moved  towards  the  door,  he  laid  a  hand  upon  my 
shouder,  speaking  in  his  usually  friendly  tone. 

"  Stay,  Ethan,  arid  keep  me  company." 

My  old  brusque  manner  returning  upon  the  instant, 
I  laughingly  inquired,  "  What  for  ?  To  keep  away  the 
blue  'evils,  that  have  been  serving  a  writ  of  habeas 
corpiis  upon  your  propria  personce  ?  " 

"  No !  no !  but  no  matter  now,  enough  to  know  we 
waste  our  energies,  and  mar  our  influence  holding  fancy 
revels  with  the  buried  ghosts  of  the  past,  chasing  delu 
sive  phantoms  in  the  present,  and  goblin  dreams  and 
doubts  concerning  the  future.  Perhaps  you  may  find  a 
few  drops  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness  flowing  in  my 
veins ;  yet,  I  confess  my  situation  rather  isolates  mo 


ALTHA.  157 

from  sympathy  and  communion  with  my  fellows.  I  tell 
you,"  said  he,  nervously,  "  the  sorrows  and  pleasures, 
all  the  cares  and  joys  of  existence,  even  the  enthusiasm 
and  energy  of  passion  and  fancy,  must  be  stifled  from 
our  very  souls,  and  crushed  out  by  the  stern  mandate 
of  duty." 

"  Why  do  you  labor  then,  spending  soul  and  body  for 
the  benefit  of  the  church  ?  " 

"  Do  you  ask  why  we  labor  ?  How  think  you  the 
cross  is  to  be  planted  throughout  our  glorious  land,  the 
convent  and  the  chapel  be  raised  in  every  dell  and 
valley,  and  upon  every  hill-top,  how  but  to  labor  and  to 
wait?" 

I  sprang  to  my  feet.  "  Sir  Priest,  I  begin  to  com 
prehend  you.  Man,  you  are  not  what  you  seem ;  why 
not  let  me  sleep  on,  while  you  work,  and  watch,  and 
wait?" 

He  bent  toward  me,  and  answered  in  a  most  impressive 
whisper,  "  because  I  love  you." 

"  I  fear,"  said  I,  "  this  solitude  and  study  has  made 

you  a  sad  misanthrope.     But  are  you  indeed  wishing 

for  sympathy  ?     Why  have  you  chosen  this  unnatural 

position  ?     Why  debar    yourself  of   social   pleasures  ? 

14 


158  ALTHA. 

Why  make  life  all  a  sacrifice?  is  it  natural,  is  it 
scriptural  ?  " 

"  Pardon  me,"  said  he,  turning  abruptly,  "  if  I  leave 
unanswered,  why  I  do  it ;  as  the  Poet  says, 

'  Just  as  lamely  can  ye  mark, 
How  far  perhaps,  I  rue  it.' 

I  have  sinned  and  suffered,  yet  I  wait  not  for  Death, 
neither  can  I  pray  for  forgetfulness.  I  ask  not  fame, 
nor  honor,  nor  love,  greater  than  that  I  am  fitted  "to 
enjoy.  We  can  feel  around  us  an  ethereal  influence, 
warning  us  of  good  and  evil,  we  can  say  who,  or  what 
are  we,  then  we  are  lost  in  the  labyrinth  of  our  own 
conjectures,  and  we  sink  down  powerless  ;  'tis  but  for  a 
moment,  we  may  not,  —  no,  we  dare  not  die  ;  we  must 
live,  and  we  must  labor ;  the  decree  is  written  on  crea 
tion's  every  page  ;  you  are  young,  and  have  a  work  to 
do ;  quietly,  silently,  it  may  be,  yet  you  must  fill  your 
place." 

The  old  man  bent  upon  me  those  soul-searching  eyes, 
and  his  long,  white  locks  trembled,  as  they  floated  over 
his  coarse,  time-worn  dress.  He  continued,  as  though 
bent  upon  reading  my  thoughts  and  purposes,  "  Altha 


ALT  HA.  159 

is  admirably  calculated  to  assist  you  in  any  situation  or 
profession." 

To  my  stare  of  astonishment  he  answered,  "  Ah,  no ! 
'tis  not  for  me,  the  holy  sympathy  of  woman's  love  ;  — 
the  heavenly  devotion,  the  celestial  affection  of  a  soul 
transferred  from  a  star-lit  world,  to  cheer  and  bless  our 
own.  If  you  win  and  wear  the  ethereal  gem,  I  will  not 
say  thee  nay.  Yet,  my  heart  will  speak  its  wildly-beat 
ing  sympathy,  by  fondly  cherishing  the  pretty  flower 
that  lingers  —  the.  lovely  "Mataka,  Altha's  child.  She 
is  so  dazzling  fair,  so  speakingly  beautiful,  with  those 
soul-full  eyes,  so  darkly  blue,  and  those  long  golden 
curls,  a  cherub  mouth,  with  two  tiny  rows  of  pearls  be 
tween  those  rolled  up  rose-leaf  lips.  Emblem  of  inno 
cence  !  blest  spot  where  thy  tiny  foot-print  lingers  ; 
thrice  happy  the  pilgrim  with  whom  thou  mayest  tarry. 
Thy  gleeful  laugh  cheats  us  of  heavy  years,  and  brushes 
away  the  traces  of  leaden  care  and  the  cobwebs  of 
sorrow." 

"  But,  Father  Anselmo,  Altha,  as  you  call  her,  doats 
upon  her  child  ;  she  walks  with  her  in  the  early  morn 
ing,  she  guards  her  when  the  sun  is  high,  and  when  the 
golden  god  sinks  down  toward  the  western  waters,  and 


160  ALT  HA. 

makes  his  resting  place  among  the  matchless  drapery 
of  evening  ;  she  watches  beside  her  little  lace  canopy  for 
the  noisy  fly  and  cunning  spider;  unconsciously  she 
listens  to  her  artless  prattle,  and  childish  joy  ;  indeed, 
father,  her  heart,  her  life  almost  seems  hound  up  in  the 
fragile  child's  :  by  rock  and  tree,  down  by  the  cool  bub- 
ling  spring,  I  saw  her  walking  with  her  child  this  morn 
ing,  teaching  it  holy  lessons  of  truth.  She  will  not 
part  with  her." 

Strange  it  seemed  to  me,  that  Father  Anselmo  often 
visited  the  little  Mataka,  lavishing  upon  her  an  abun 
dance  of  presents,  sometimes  holding  her  upon  his  knee, 
smoothing  back  those  glossy  sunlit  curls,  looking  into 
those  great  blue  eyes.  With  his  usual  thoughtfulness, 
he  had  fitted  up  a  play-room  for  her :  it  was  arranged 
after  the  rustic  fashion  of  the  hermit's  cell,  and  the 
room  was  made  impervious  to  the  trifling  changes  of 
weather,  by  thickly-set  redwood  and  stunted  oak,  inter 
laced  with  vines.  There  was  just  air  and  sunlight 
enough  flickering  and  dancing  from  among  the  over 
hanging  spray,  and  luxuriant  foliage  to  make  the  place 
seem  quite  a  young  Eden.  The  interior  was  a  perfect 
parterre  of  bright  and  beautiful  flowers,  chosen  both 


ALTHA.  161 

for  display  and  their  delightful  fragrance;  numerous 
cages  of  singing-birds  with  gorgeous  plumage,  rare 
vases,  and  porcelain  fountains  dripping  with  crystal 
water,  sparkling  and  glad  in  every  stray  sunbeam  and 
ruffling  zephyr. 

The  thought  that  I  could  provide  for  Altha's  pet 
flower  made  me  happy,  and  I  thought  that  Father  An- 
selmo  knew  how  to  win  his  way  to  the  heart  of  the 
mother,  by  these  lavish  attentions  to  the  child.  What 
ever  the  mother's  necessities,  I  did  not  fear  she  would 
give  up  her  child  to  the  influence  of  the  priest,  and 
scarcely  divining  the  drift  of  his  words  when  he  spoke 
of  keeping  her  I  answered,  "No  doubt  you  will  miss 
the  child." 

"  Miss  her  !  I  cannot  part  with  her  ;  no,  no;  she  can 
not  go  from  here  unless  it  is  home  with  the  angels ! 
therefore  do  not  speak  of  it." 

14* 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

"  FATHER  Anselmo,  it  has  been  a  great  subject  for 
speculation  with  me,  where  you  gathered  your  numerous 
clan,  speaking  every  language  from  the  Chinese  to  the 
Hottentot,  and,  likewise,  how  you  keep  them  under  sub 
jection  and  in  harmony  with  each  other." 

"  The  gathering  of  them  together  has  been  the  work 
of  years,  adding  one  and  another  as  I  have  met  with 
them,  in  peculiar  circumstances  of  misfortune  and 
trouble." 

"  You  have  the  strongest  claims,  then,  upon  their 
gratitude  and,  no  doubt,  find  it  comparatively  easy  to 
assimmilate  their  views  to  your  own." 

"  One  great  source  of  power,"  said  he,  "  is  in  gain 
ing  their  confidence.  There  is,  in  unenlightened 
minds  a  degree  of  humanity,  and  a  greater  or  lesser 
share  of  superstition.  These  materials,  moulded  by  a 
skilful  teacher,  will  insure  obedience  to  more  than  or 
dinary  requirement.  I  could  not  always  feel  perfectly 


ALTHA.  163 

satisfied  with  my  own  labors,  to  depend  upon  the  means 
I  have  mentioned,  and,  therefore,  I  have  gradually  laid 
open  to  them  the  scriptures,  and  found  many  of  them 
to  improve  from  the  lessons  of  our  Saviour.  I  trust 
many  of  them  have  an  anchor  of  faith  upon  which  to 
stay  their  hopes,  whose  hold  is  in  heaven." 

"  What ! "  I  exclaimed  in  astonishment,  "  this  is  con 
trary  to  your  precepts." 

.  "  Not  exactly.  With  a  teacher,  however,  I  believe 
they  can  understand  the  Bible,  and,  moreover,  that  they 
will  feel  inexpressible  comfort  from  passages  overlooked 
as  unimportant,  or  given  up  as  mysteries,  by  the  ear 
nest  champion  of  scholastic  theology." 

"  If  Mrs.  Marvin  were  here  to  hear  you,  she  would  say 
you  were  apostatizing  from  your  church." 

"  Yes  ;  with  so  much  of  home  around  me,  I  might  be 
in  danger,"  said  he  smiling.  "  See,"  said  he,  pointing 
to  his  watch,  "  the  vesper  light  grows  dim,  shedding  its 
pale  ghastly  hue  upon  the  cadaverous  countenances  up 
turned  toward  it,  warning  us  to  seek  our  rest  and 
court  the  goddess  of  pleasant  dreams. 

In  the  cool  twilight  I  wandered  forth  to  enjoy  a  happy 
hour ;  on  over  the  green  sward,  and  along  the  beatten 


164  ALTHA. 

paths,  beside  the  dark  grey  rocks,  and  'neath  the  vine- 
embowered  trees  and  hedge-rows,  I  loitered,  dreaming 
of  life  and  happiness  and  inanimate  beauty. 

Anon,  the  distant  church  organ  breathed  forth  its 
stirriner,  solemn  music.     I  knew  Mrs.   Marvin  was  in 

O7 

the  church,  engaged  with  Senorita  Isabella,  and  I  lis 
tened  to  their  blended  voices  in  the  chant.  How  unlike 
they  were,  those  two ;  yes,  unlike  in  religion,  education, 
everything  ;  yet  a  strong  friendship  seems  to  have 
sprung  up  between  them.  Ah!  here  comes  Father 
Anselmo.  He  has  been  taking  one  of  his  long  rides, 
upon  some  mission  of  business  or  charity.  He  is  accus 
tomed  to  leave  us  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night. 
His  horse  is  as  great  a  study  as  himself.  See,  the  ani 
mal  cornes  with  his  ears  thrown  back,  his  head  drooping 
forward  almost  to  the  ground,  and  he  moves  with  a  slow 
jogging  pace,  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  rusty  bridle 
and  coarse  blanket,  one  would  think  bespeaking  the 
poverty  of  the  owner.  The  horse  greatly  aroused  my 
curiosity,  whenever  I  saw  him  in  this  dejected-looking 
condition ;  I  had  seen  him,  when  Father  Anselmo  was 
riding  free  from  observation.  Then  the  animal  pricked 
up  his  ears,  his  eye  filled  with  fire  and  energy,  and 
every  limb  full  of  life,  bounded  before  the  wind  with 


ALTHA.  165 

the  speed  of  an  antelope  ;  but,  at  the  slightest  sound  or 
object  in  the  way  before  him,  or  a  word  or  touch  from 
his  master,  so  well  trained  was  he,  he  would  slacken 
his  pace  to  a  creeping  walk,  putting  on  this  forlorn 
aspect.  The  monk  dismounted  a  short  distance  from 
me,  removed  the  worn  blanket  and  bridle,  and  hanging 
them  upon  a  tree,  patted  his  faithful  servant,  speaking 
a  few  cheering  words  to  him.  The  noble  animal  rub 
bed  against  his  arm,  bounded,  glanced  back  at  his 
master,  then  away  to  the  broad  area  of  rich  land  to 
feed  upon  the  tall  seed-grass.  The  monk  could  call  his 
horse  upon  the  instant,  by  sounding  a  few  notes  on  a 
little  reed  bugle  he  carried  about  his  person. 
.  "  Life  cannot  be  all  dreary  while  my  horse  is  left  to 
love  me,"  said  the  priest,  speaking  to  himself,  approach 
ing  with  his  usual  dignified  mien.  "  My  son,  engaged 
in  meditation.  The. Deity  can  make  us  feel  His  spirit- 
presence,  and  we  are  made  to  understand  our  relation 
to  Him  through  the  study  of  his  works." 

"  Yes,  father,  the  study  of  the  natural  world,  in  all 
its  grandeur,  sublimity,  mystery  and  beauty,  I  agree 
with  you  is  good,  and  must  lead  us  to  worship  the 
Author,  but  who  is  the  Author  ?  " 

"  He  who  has  given  to  man  an  iota  of  divine  will,  — 


166  ALTHA. 

the  power  of  life,  is  the  connecting  link  between  God 
and  humanity,  by  which  we  know  him.  Who,"  said 
the  priest,  "  has  power  of  his  own  will  to  live  ?  No  one. 
Then  who  will  say  there  is  no  God  ?  This  power  enables 
us  to  make  ourselves  fit  companions  for  angels,  or  sink 
down  until  we  become  even  as  devils." 

"  Even  so  ;  but,  Father,  I  have  always  heard  this  is 
a  hard,  wicked  world  ;  yet,  I  like  it,  and  often  think  it 
is  not  so  bad  a  world  after  all." 

"My  son,  'tis  how  we  take  it.  Although  I  have  been 
beaten  and  buffetted  by  the  winds  and  waves  of  mis 
fortune  over  two-thirds  of  this  habitable  globe.  I  can 
still  say  I  love  this  beautiful  world  of  ours ;  and 
could  we  trust  one  another,  heart  to  heart,  as  friend  and 
brother,  we  should  rejoice  in  an  earthly  paradise — a 
heaven  upon  earth." 

"  Shall  we  live  to  see  the  good  time  coming  ?" 

"  God  grant  we  may,"  said  the  monk  ;  "  for  as  our 
pathway  is  onward,  it  must  be  improving  in  good  or  de 
generating  into  evil.  The  good  would  unfold  the  mil- 
lenial  glory  ;  the  evil  dawn  upon  the  day  when  the  heav 
ens  shall  pass  away  as  a  scroll,  and  the  earth  shall 
melt  with  fervent,  heat." 


AL1HA.  167 

"  Go  on,  if  you  please,  Father  Anselmo,"  said  Ethan. 

Anselmo  continued :  "  All  things  are  created  for  good, 
be  it  ever  so  lowly." 

"  They  live  their  day  and  die  in  the  arms  of  grim 
decay ;  they  waste  away  and  are  forgotten  ;  yet 
they  were  created  for  our  use,  our  pleasure  and  com 
fort.  We  chose  some  and  neglect  others.  Man  exists 
like  the  bird  and  the  flower — he  has  his  day  and  decays. 
Was  man  created  without  a  motive  ?  " 

"  A  little  lower  than  the  angels.  In  the  likeness  of- 
God." 

"  When  we  die  the  spirit  returns  to  the  Creator :  if 
we  have  done  well,  we  feel  we  are  going  home ;  if  ill, 
that  we  are  none  of  his." 

"Now,  what  makes  the  savage  create,  in  his  rude 
manner,  an  object  of  worship,  but  this  spark  of  the  in 
dwelling  spirit  of  God  with  which  he  is  endowed." 

Ethan  answered  his  question  by  asking  another :  "  I 
see,  Father  Anselmo,  you  are  charitably  disposed  to 
wards  your  kind,  and  suppose  the  reason  you  admit  to 
your  lodge  in  the  wildernerness  such  a  variety  of  per 
sons,  you  find  about  them  a  little  spark  of  godliness,  or 
some  redeeming  qualitity,  hid  beneath  the  dust  and  rub 


168  ALTHA. 

bish  of  years,  and  you  give  them  a  helping  hand,  hoping 
to  make  them  more  worthy." 

"  Not  of  myself  alone  do  I  it,  but  the  spirit  of  God 
which  says  to  them,  '  My  children,  O  how  can  I  give 
thee  up  !  Come  unto  me." 

"And  what,  if  they  will  not  come  unto  Him  ?" 

"  Then  He  may  do  with  them  as  He  will,  as  they  are 
in  his  hands,  —  as  clay  in  the  hands  of  the  potter." 

"  But  religion,"  I  remarked,  interrogatively,  "  is  made 
to  die  by." 

"  True  religion,  my  son,  is  likewise  made  to  live  by. 
It  should  accompany  us  everywhere,  in  every  department 
of  business  and  pleasure,  —  in  every  act  of  life,  not 
to  spend  itself  in  pompous  words,  noisy  prayers,  and 
pharisaical  alms-giving ;  but  to  act  upon,  in  quiet  les 
sons  of  love  and  charity  to  our  fellows,  to  rest  and  lean 
upon  in  the  hour  of  trouble  and  temptation.  Our  reli 
gion  should  be  a  part  of  ourselves,  not  a  set  formula  for 
which  we  need  blush  or  cavil,  because  unlike  our  neiffh- 

7  O 

bors  ;  we  should  only  be  ashamed  for  want  of  it,  as  dis 
playing  our  ignorance  of  self  and  our  divine  origin." 
We  continued  our  walk  for  a  time  in  silence,  myself 


ALTHA.  169 

wishing  I  had  been  longer  acquainted  with  this  same 

priest. 

"  Scnorita  Isabella  plays  well,"  I  ventured  to  remark, 

as  the  whispering  breeze  caught  and  repeated  the  har 
mony  of  song  from  the  little  chapel. 

"  Yes,  and  Altha  spends  much  time  with  her." 

"  I  am  happy  to  know  they  love  each  other." 

"But  who  is  Senorita  Isabella?  tell  me  something 

of  her." 

"  It  is  the  hour  for  my  duties  in  the  oratory,  after 

which  I  will  be  at  your  service,"  and  smiling  benignly, 

he  left  me. 

15 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

ISABELLA  VENICIA  was  of  Spanish  blood,  queenly  in 
her  carriage,  and  very  beautiful.  Her  regal  head  sat 
lightly  upon  that  arching  neck  and  gracefully  sloping 
shoulders,  seeming  all  unconscious  of  its  being  worthy 
of  admiration.  Her  shining  tresses  were  put  up  in 
braids,  luxuriant  waves  and  curls  fastened  occasionally 
with  a  diamond  pin  or  a  sprig  of  pearls,  with  a  white 
muslin  veil  thrown  over  the  whole,  reaching  nearly  to 
the  floor.  She  wore,  upon  this  evening,  a  robe  of  dark 
velvet,  lined  with  silk  colour  dc  rose,  thrown  carelessly 
over  a  costlier  dress  of  white  silk  elaborately  embroi 
dered.  I  marked  the  richness  of  her  costume,  although 
she  was  simply  dressed  for  comfort  in  her  own  quiet 
boudoir. 

Said  Father  Anselmo,  "  our  Isabella  is  the  sister  of 
Juan  Venicia,  who  crosses  your  path  so  often,  as  the 
ferocious  looking  Mexican,  Mrs.  Marvin's  attendant,  or 
the  Spanish  gentleman,  disturbing  your  reveries, 
smoking  the  everlasting  cigarette,  while  he  ponders 
on  your  Yankee  notions  and  movements." 


ALTHA.  171 

Notwithstanding  Father  Anselmo's  serious  aspect, 
there  was  an  under  current  of  humor  governing  his 
words  and  acts,  which  made  me  feel  quite  at  home  with 
him,  instead  of  the  cold,  calculating  spirit  I  had  ex 
pected  to  find.  He  continued: 

"  The  old  Don,  their  father,  was  a  descendant  of  the 
Montezumas,  of  wealth  and  distinction.  When  trouhle 
occurred  hetween  the  States  and  Mexico,  causing  the 
war,  the  Don  was  deeply  engaged  in  it,  and  during  the 
contention  for  their  rights,  he  lost  hoth  life  and  prop 
erty.  Juan  and  myself  being  firm  friends,  accompanied 
each  other  to  this  place,  which  had  formerly  been  a 
station  for  the  holy  Fathers,  now  ruined  and  dilapi 
dated  ;  and  here  we  spent  many  years  in  preparing  it 
to  suit  our  own  peculiar  ideas.  After  the  death  of  Don 
Yenicia,  and  the  loss  of  fortune,  it  was  decided  expe« 
dient  for  Isabella  to  return  to  the  convent  where  she 
had  been  educated.  But  senorita  was  quite  too  fond  of 
the  gay  world,  and  had  been  too  long  a  captive  bird  to 
wish  to  enter  those  grey  old  gloomy  walls.  '  Besides, 
brother  Juan,'  she  would  say,  '  I  do  n't  like  this  institu 
tion  which  consecrates  only  a  few  of  its  handsomest  and 
noblest  maidens,  and  leaves  the  rest  free  to  enjoy  them 
selves.  Now  Don  Juan,'  she  would  say,  playfully,  '  I 


172  ALTHA. 

see  no  religion  in  occupying  that  crib  of  a  cell  and 
counting  my  rosary  and  telling  my  prayers  from  morn 
ing  until  morning  again,  when  I  so  love  the  sunshine, 
and  my  thoughts  are  with  the  birds,  longing  for  the 
flowers  and  the  company  of  my  friends." 

"  In  that  case,  senorita,  I  fear  you  will  have  to  do 
penance  often." 

.  "  But  that  would  not  prevent  me  from  wishing  again 
to  be  free,  and  then  I  should  have  to  go  over  all  again, 
confess  and  do  penance  until  I  should  hate  myself  and 
fear  Father  Joseph  more  than  all." 

"  You  frighten  me,  senorita,  railing  at  our  holy  re 
quirements.  I  must  turn  you  over  to  our  confessor  and 
let  him  deal  with  you." 

"  Eather,  brother,  deal  with  me  from  your  own  kind 
heart,  and  let  me  go  with  you,"  said  she  coaxingly. 

"  Were  not  the  Lady  Abbess  and  the  Sisters  kind  to 
you?" 

"  Yes  ;  oh  !  so  kind.  But  I  used  to  lie  awake  nights 
thinking  of  them,  with  their  beautiful  hair  hid  beneath 
the  veil  or  the  ugly  black  hood,  their  marble  cheeks 
and  pallid  lips,  and  their  great  eyes  forever  looking 
within  as  though  tracing  the  memory  of  some  great 
heart-sorrow.  Oh  !  I  never  could  be  so  good  and  weep 


ALTHA.  173 

my  strength,  my  life  away,  doing  penance  for  every 
thought  and  act  of  erring  flesh."  And  then  she  con 
tinued,  in  her  earnestness,  "  When  they  have  taken  the 
vows,  are  they  not  as  good  as  buried  alive  ?  Who  will 
know  it,  or  care  for  them,  if  they  are  sick,  and  suffer 
ing,  and  dying,  alone,  in  their  distant  cells  ?  The  door 
is  opened  in  the  morning,  are  they  dead !  Who 
knew  how  much  she  suffered,  alone,  in  that  dark 
ened  cell  ?  Who  sat  beside  her  and  watched  her  lamp 
of  life  going  out,  and  cheered  her  as  she  neared  the 
valley  of  shadows  ?  None.  The  novices  may  visit  the 
chancel,  crowd  around  the  bier  and  look  upon  those 
clay-cold  features,  and  be  told  to  follow  her  bright  ex 
ample  ;  then  she  is  forgotten,  unless  her  ghost  is  con 
jured  up,  wrapped  in  its  white  garments,  gliding  about 
those  dim  corridors  to  frighten  the  refractory  into  obe 
dience.  Oh !  I  -know  I  should  die." 

"  Fie,  senorita,  you  are  too  imaginative,  too  ro 
mantic." 

"But  senorita  gained  her  point.  She  is  known 
here  as  the  '  Lady  of  the  Chapel.'  She  plays  upon  the 
organ,  of  which  she  is  passionately  fond,  and  attends  to 
those  who  come  to  the  chapel  to  seek  charity  or  to  wor 
ship.  Don  Juan  and  myself,  together,  own  this  rancho, 
i « 

-L  O 


174  ALTHA. 

and  share  all  the  'care  and  the  profits  besides,  his  nu 
merous  influential  friends  throughout  the  country, 
furnish  him  enough  to  attend  to,  and  myself,  too,  when 
not  engaged  in  the  duties  of  my  office,  which  is  partly 
devoted  to  charity." 

"  But  Ethan,  your  party  were  not  objects  of  charity. 
No  doubt,  you  thought  it  was  rather  miraculous  that 
Father  Anselnio  and  his  followers  should  take  so  great 
an  interest  in  you." 

"  Exactly,  Halvor  ;  I  puzzled  my  brain  about  it  until 
I  could  not  think  at  all,  and  as  often  made  up  my  mind, 
that  I  would  not  leave  Mrs  Marvin  and  her  child  in  the 
hands  of  the  priest,  or  his  servants." 

"Don  Venicia  intends  sending  Senorita  Isabella  to 
the  capital  soon,  that  she  may  form  an  alliance  worthy 
her  beauty  and  station,"  said  he  as  we  separated. 

Upon  entering  the  parlor  I  found  the  ladies  there  be 
fore  me.  Mrs.  Marvin  was  seated  upon  an  ottoman, 
near  the  window,  intent  upon  watching  the  distant  sky. 
Senorita  Isabella  was  reclining  upon  a  pile  of  crimson 
embroidered  cushions,  one  arm  resting  upon  the  ottoman 
and  with  her  hand  brushing  back  the  muslin  veil  which 
fell  in  heavy  folds  over  her  neck  and  shoulders ;  she 


ALTHA.  175 

was  accustomed  to  appear  well  if  not  richly  dressed,  the 
envious  veil  was  worn  to  defy  the  curious ;  her  clear  bru 
nette  complexion,  the  raven  blackness  of  her  shining 
tresses,  added  to  the  expression  of  lofty  pride  of  birth 
stamped  upon  her  features,  formed  a  delightful  contrast 
to  the  delicate  features,  large  blue  eyes,  brown  wavy 
hair,  and  subdued  heavenly  expression  of  Altha.  I 
seated  myself  in  silence,  not  willing  to  destroy  so  charm 
ing  a  tableau.  The  senorita  was  the  first  to  break  the 
spell. 

"  O,  how  charming  this  hour  ?  I  love  to  watch  the 
darkness  stealing  so  gently,  so  silently  downward  from 
cloud-curtains  fashioned  to  lull  earth's  weary  children 
to  rest.  How  beautiful  the  language  it  speaks  to  the 
soul.  I  fancy  I  can  feel  the  spirit  presence  of  the  good 
angels,  with  their  starry  wings  folded,  amid  the  dark 
ness,  hovering  near,  breathing,  '  God  is  love.' " 

Mrs.  Marvin  turned  her  gaze  upon  Senorita  Isabella, 
as  she  replied,  "  The  influence  of  this  hour,  with  its  lofty 
enthusiasm  goes  to  make  up  the  poetry  of  existence ; 
but  to  understand  that  God  is  love,  we  must  see  Him  in 
His  plan  of  redemption  to  a  fallen  world. 

"  Senora,  why  so  ?  " 


176  ALTHA. 

"  Else  our  bright  view  of  His  love  might  be  dispelled 
by  a  less  beautiful  view  before  us.  For  instance,  as  a 
learned  divine  expresses  it,  '  If  a  tornado  was  devastat 
ing  and  sweeping  everything  to  destruction,  the  confi 
dence  which  had  been,  by  an  exhibition  which  appeared 
eloquent  of  the  benevolence  of  God,  would  yield  to 
horror  and  trepidation,  while  the  Eternal  One  seemed 
walking  before  us,  the  tempest  his  voice,  the  lightning 
his  glance,  and  a  fierce  devastation  in  every  footprint.' 
Senorita,"  continued  Mrs.  Marvin,  "I  too  enjoy  this 
peaceful  happy  hour,  and  think  to  commune  with  the 
friends  I  have  loved  and  lost.  Yet  I  love  to  look  beyond 
the  arcadian  divinity  drawn  from  the  beauty  of  the 
landscape,  to  divine  teaching,  where  we  learn  God  loved 
us  so  well,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  to  die  for 
us,  that  the  sacrifice  of  His  blood  might  be  a  propitiation 
for  our  sins.  Then  I  can  feel  the  immeasureableness 
of  God's  love." 

"  Senora,  since  you  acknowledge  the  Saviour,  why  do 
you  not  kneel  before  the  crucifix  or  the  Virgin  during 
prayer  ? " 

"  Isabella,  please  tell  me  first,  why  you  do  it  ?  " 

"  To  incite  in  one's  mind  a  spirit  of  devotion.     We 


ALTHA.  177 

*tao  present  our  petitions  to  the  Holy  Mother,  that  she 
A*  vy  present  them  to  her  Son,  and  by  Him  to  the  Eter- 
u*i  Father." 

'•  Senorita,  I  learn  from  tne  scriptures,  that  our  heav 
en]*  Father  not  only  gives  us  the  blessed  privilege  of 
coming  direct  to  Him  with  our  petitions,  but  commands 
us  to  do  so,  asking  all  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  for  Christ's 
sake.  Therefore,  as  to  a  kind  and  heavenly  Father,  we 
may  come  to  him  ;  and,  if  we  have  the  true  spirit  of 
prayer,  we  need  no  representation  made  by  man  to  incite 
us  to  duty.  Neither  can  I  find  in  the  Bible  any  com 
mand  or  injunction,  to  present  our  petitions  to  the  Vir 
gin  Mary." 

"  Senora,  do  you  likewise  doubt  this  command  of  the 
church  — '  Confess  your  sins  to  the  priest,  that  he  may 
absolve  you  ' ;  you  do  not  obey  it  ?  " 

"  Because  I  find  no  authority  for  it  in  the  Bible.  St. 
Paul  said  to  his  brethren  of  the  church,  '  confess  your  sins 
one  to  another,  that  through  their  prayers  ye  may  obtain 
forgiveness.'  But  we  learn,  senorita,  that  we  must  re 
pent,  and  humbly  pray  to  God  that  he  will  deliver  us 
from  sin,  and  suffer  not  our  natural  feelings  to  be  over 
come  with  temptation  ;  and  we  have  the  assurance  from 


178  ALTHA. 

the  Bible,  if  we  watch  and  pray,  and  strive  to  overcome 
sin,  we  shall  have  the  assistance  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to 
keep  us  in  the  right  way." 

"  Tell  me  why  you  do  not  worship  the  host  ?  " 
"  How  could  I  worship  it  while  I  have  the  privilege 
of  reading  the  Bible,  and  power  of  mind  to  understand 
it  ?  Christ  instituted  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Sup 
per,  blessing  the  bread  and  wine,  and  enjoining  it  upon 
His  disciples  to  do  it  in  remembrance  of  Him.  There 
fore,  we  consecrate  the  bread  and  wine  by  prayer  and 
faith.  '  And  of  the  cup,  he  gave  thanks,  and  gave  it 
unto  them,  [his  disciples]  saying  drink  ye  all  of  it,  for 
this  is  my  blood  of  the  new  testament,  which  is  shed  for 
many,  for  the  remission  of  sins ;  this  do  as  oft  as  ye 
drink  of  it  in  remembrance  of  me ;  for  as  often  as  ye 
eat  of  this  bread  and  drink  of  this  cup,  ye  do  show 
forth  the  Lord's  death,  till  he  come.'  We  break  bread, 
bless  the  cup,  and  drink  it,  following  his  example, 
thereby  becoming  his  disciples,  the  clergyman  serv 
ing  as  Christ's  servant.  Now,  Senorita  Isabella,  I 
learn  your  church  teaches  that  the  priest  turns  the 
bread  and  wine  into  the  actual  body  and  blood  of 
Christ,  by  transubstantiation,  then  calls  upon  all  the 


ALTHA.  179 

people  to  adore  it  as  the  host.  Here  the  priest  goes 
through  with  a  multiplicity  of  ceremonies,  representing 
Christ's  sufferings  and  death,  then  makes  '  an  ahlutioii, 
a  sacrifice  to  God  of  the  host,  which  he  affirms  to  be  the 
real  body  and  blood  of  Christ.  The  church  suffers  the 
laity  to  partake  of  the  bread,  teaching  them  'tis  suffi 
cient  for  them  as  they  receive  whole  Christ  under  one 
kind  ;  that  the  priest,  because  he  offers  the  sacrifice,  and 
represents  the  bloody  sacrifice  upon  the  cross,  is  bound 
to  receive  the  cup  and  drink  it,  from  the  command  ex 
pressed  to  his  disciples,  '  drink  ye  all  of  it.'  " 

"  But  are  not  those  his  disciples  who  endeavor  to  obey 
his  instructions,  and  follow  his  example  ? " 

"  Isabella,  we  are  both  taught  these  things,  but  how 
widely  different." 

"  We  have  the  evidence  of  the  Pope,  senora,  that  wo 
are  right." 

"  What  Pope,  my  dear?  " 

"  Why,  St.  Peter  ;  he  was  the  first  Pope." 

"And  from  what  do    you  learn  that,  and    gain  a 
knowledge  of  the  Pope's  authority  ?  " 

"  From  the  church  whose  oral  and  written  traditions 
have  been  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation." 

"  Thank  you,"  said    Mrs.  Marvin,  smiling.      "  The 


180  ALT  HA. 

very  reason  you  have  given  would  banish  all  faith  in 
popery,  since  there  is  room  to  doubt  the  correctness  of 
these  oral  traditions,  from  the  knowledge  that  there  is 
so  much  chance  for  error  to  creep  in." 

"  But  you  must  not  doubt  the  authority  of  the  church ; 
she  is  infallible." 

"  But,  senorita,  how  can  I  believe  in  her  infallibility, 
when  I  may  search  the  scriptures  and  use  my  OAvn  judg 
ment." 

"  But  you  will  not  be  allowed  your  own  judgment. 
The  church  forbids  her  children  to  read  the  Bible, 
except  under  the  eye,  and  with  the  assistance  of  the 
priest." 

"  I  know  it,  Senorita  Isabella,  therefore  would  not 
intelligent  men  and  women  become  mere  machines  sub 
ject  to  their  will  and  power,  is  it  not  so  ?  " 

Senorita  looked  down,  somewhat  puzzled,  and  con 
fused;  while  I  sat  looking  on  with  wrapt  attention. 
Soon  after  we  had  commenced  the  conversation,  Father 
Anselmo  had  come  in  and  taken  a  seat  in  the  shade  ; 
neither  Mrs.  Marvin  nor  Senorita  Isabella  being  aware 
of  his  proximity  to  our  circle. 

"  Senora,"  continued  Isabella,  "  you  talk  away 
everything  connected  with  the  holy  Catholic  church; 


ALTHA.  181 

do  you  also  deny  the  necessity  of  good  works?  The 
priest  teaches  us  to  do  penance  and  good  works,  that  we 
may  obtain  the  favor  of  the  church,  and  merit  heaven." 

"  Senorita,  our  translation  of  the  Hebrew  teaches  us 
to  repent,  that  we  may  obtain  forgiveness.  I  find  no 
such  word  as  penance." 

"  The  Catholic  church,"  said  Isabella,  earnestly, 
"  teaches  us  we  can  never  do  enough  to  merit  the  for 
giveness  of  Heaven." 

"  My  dear  friend,"  rejoined  Mrs.  M.,  laying  her  hand 
affectionately  upon  Isabella's  arm,  "  this  is  only  another 
place  where  the  Catholic  church  contradicts  itself,  as  you 
will  see  ;  you  profess  to  believe  in  the  sacrifice  of  Christ's 
blood  as  an  atonement  for  sin,  taking  for  granted  we  are 
sinners  from  the  commencement,  which  sin  we  have  in 
herited  with  our  human  nature,  and  take  from  God  all 
the  glory  of  the  sacrifice,  which  he  offers  a  free  offering 
to  all,  and  every  one,  who  will  accept  of  it,  and  which, 
he  says,  is  sufficient  to  cleanse  from  sin,  '  though  they 
be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as  wool.' >; 

"  Then,  senora,  we  have  nothing  to  do  but  accept 
of  it." 

"  0  yes,  everything  to  do  which  was  our  duty  from 
the  beginning,  to  serve  God  as  a  dear  master,  and  love 


182  ALTHA. 

Him  as  a  kind  parent.  What  right  have  we  to  hope  to 
obtain  favor  with  God  by  giving  Him  that  which  already 
belongs  to  Him  ?  " 

"Senora,  if  I  do  all,  and  more  than  is  required 
of  me,  in  penance  and  good  works,  ought  it  not  to  be 
of  some  merit  with  God  ?  " 

"  If  you  give  alms,  whose  is  the  money  ?  '  The  silver 
is  mine,  and  the  gold  is  mine,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.7 
If  you  mortify  the  flesh,  whose  are  the  macerated 
limbs  ?  If  you  put  sack-cloth  upon  the  soul,  whose  is 
the  chastened  spirit  ?  If  you  be  moral  and  honest,  and 
friendly  and  generous,  and  patriotic,  whose  is  the  dispo 
sition  you  exercise,  whose  are  the  powers  to  which  you 
give  culture  and  scope  ?  And  if  we  only  use  God's 
gifts  can  that  be  meritorious  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  Isabella,  "  to  use  aright,  while  others 
abuse  them.  But  it  would  be  wickedness  to  abuse  them. 
Therefore,  it  can  be  only  duty  to  use  aright;  and  duty 
is  merit  when  debt  is  donation.  "We  must  still  say, 
when  we  have  done  the  best  we  can,  '  all  things  come 
of  Thee,  and  of  thine  own,  0  God,  I  have  given  thee.' " 

Glancing  at  my  watch,  I  found  we  had  been  unmind 
ful  of  the  flight  of  time,  and  also  unaware  that  we  had 
been  listening  to  a  sermon  while  conversing  so  famili- 


ALTHA.  183 

arly.  Here  Juba,  Mataka's  nurse,  was  aroused  from  her 
position,  where  she  had  been  curled  up  in  the  shadow  of 
a  chair,  her  head  resting  upon  her  hands,  fast  asleep, 
and  sent  off  with  Mataka ;  the  child  having  come  in 
softly,  while  we  were  talking,  for  the  good-night  kiss, 
and  climbing  upon  her  mother's  lap,  was  likewise  asleep, 
nestled  in  those  loving  arms.  Senorita  Isabella  arose 
and  settled  herself  among  the  cushions  of  the  lounge 
with  a  look  of  weariness,  from  her  previous  wrapt  atten 
tion.  Mrs.  Marvin  appeared  least  fatigued,  and  she 
smiled  as  I  stretched  my  long  limbs,  examined  the  toe 
of  my  boot  and  thrust  my  hands  into  my  pockets. 
After  partaking  a  glass  of  water  from  the  fountain,  by 
way  of  refreshment,  we  were  prepared  to  take  a  fresh 
start.  Father  Anselmo  still  remained  in  the  shade, 
not  a  movement  from  him,  betrayed  his  position. 

"  Mrs.  Marvin  you  have  told  us  before  this  evening, 
that  you  believe  there  is  a  God.  Now  why  do  you  be 
lieve  it  ?  " 

"  AVhy,  Ethan,  we  feel  it."  Then  after  a  few  mo 
ments  pause,  she  added :  "  A  controversy  that  would 
last  a  life  time,  could  give  us  no  more  satifactory  an 
swer  than  this,  we  feel  it.  If  there  is  not  within  our 


184  ALTHA. 

nature  that  which  teaches  us,  there  is  a  power  superior 
to  our  own.  Why  does  the  heathen,  who  has  never 
heard  of  God  or  revelation,  make  images  to  worship  ?  " 

1  love  to  be  on  the  negative  side  in  every  argument 
or  question,  and  accordingly  inquired,  "if  there  is  a 
God,  and  the  Bible  is  true,  why  do  not  all  Christians  see 
these  things  alike  ?  " 

"  They  feel  the  inward  comfort  of  them ;  but  it  is 
impossible  for  all  persons  to  see  exactly  alike,  where 

* 

there  is  ground  for  argument  or  controversy." 

"  Then,  you  allow  the  Bible  contradicts  itself,"  I  re 
marked  with  no  little  surprise  and  haste. 

"  My  dear  friend,"  said  she,  "  this  is  one  of  the  great 
est  charms  and  strongest  proofs,  that  the  scriptures  are 
of  divine  origin,  —  that  when  a  person  doubts  and  en 
deavors  to  prove  it  false,  by  theology  and  human  reason, 
he  gets  completely  lost  in  the  intricacies  and  windings, 
and  confounded ;  all  is  darkness  and  blindness.  On 
the  other  hand,  read  it  with  an  unbiased  mind,  free 
from  prejudice,  and  lifting  the  thought  in  prayer  to 
God,  in  the  words  of  the  Psalmist:  'O  Lord  open 
thou  mine  understanding,  that  I  may  see  wondrous 
things  out  of  thy  law/  and  we  shall  find  that  it  contains 


ALTHA.  185 

sufficient  for  consolation,  instruction,  and  reproof  for  all 
conditions  of  men,  one  verse  hinging  upon  another,  a 
perfect  whole." 

"  Mrs.  Marvin,  when  you  speak  of  God  you  speak  of 
him  as  a  being  to  love ;  now,  some  hold  him  up  as  a 
being  to  fear." 

"  True ;  for  how  can  we  have  a  perfect  knage  of  God, 
unless  we  have  a  just  as  well  as  a  loving  one.  •  If  we 
will  not  hearken  unto  him,  nor  own  him  as  our  God,  nor 
try  to  obey  him,  would  it  not  be  right  that  he  should 
punish  us,  if  he  pleases.  That  is  a  question  concerning 
which  I  have  often  demurred,  and  had  any  one  but  your 
self  preferred  it  I  should  have  been  half  vexed," 

"Why,  my  kind  friend,  should  you  be  angry  with  any 
reasonable  questions  ?  " 

"  I  can  scarcely  tell  why  ;  yet,  it  is  hard  to  acknowl 
edge  some  of  the  doctrines.  For  instance,  God,  know 
ing  all  things  from  the  beginning,  and  ordaining  or 
knowing  that  some  will  be  saved  and  certain  others 
lost." 

"  I  will  give  you  a  similie  put  in  the  simplest  language 
possible.  Were  you  to  invent  a  machine,  you  alone 


186  ALTHA. 

would  know  its  powers,  and,  consequently,  apply  to  it 
the  necessary  means  to  have  it  work  according  to  your 
design.  But,  suppose  in  the  material  used  or  added  in  its 
construction,  you  add  a  free  will  of  its  own,  by  which 
it  may  choose  of  itself  to  work  right  or  wrong ;  and,  if  it 
work  wrong,  whereby  all  is  confusion,  ought  there  to  be 
any  blame  attached  to  you  as  the  author,  since  the  ma 
chine  exercised  the  power  to  chose  for  itself*?" 

"  Why,  Mrs.  Marvin,  would  not  the  author,  who  is 
superior  to  his  work,  exert  an  influence  upon  it  to  make 
it  work  aright  ?  " 

"My  dear  friend,  Ethan,  the  Author  of  our  being 
does  exert  an  influence  upon  us  in  every  good  thought 
in  every  generous  act  of  humanity,  in  the  beauty  of 
each  tiny  flower  and  waving  tree,  the  plentiful  harvest, 
the  sleeping  lake  —  a  mirror  of  God's  works,  in  the 
thunder,  amid  the  storm,  upon  the  mountain,  in  the  ava 
lanche.  From  all  and  every  work  from  God's  great 
storehouse  of  creation,  a  voice  is  heard,  a  whisper  goes 
forth,  '  God,  God  ! '  and  our  souls  give  back  the  answer 
ing  echo,  '  't  is  true.'  Wherefore  should  we  not  love  and 
obey  him  ?  " 

Father  Ansclmo  startled  us  by  coming  forward  ;  his 


ALT  HA.  187 

firm  stop  sounding  heavier  than  usual,  his  arms  folded, 
and  his  eye  resting  on  us  as  though  studying  every  face 
hcfore  him.  I  glanced  at  Mrs.  Marvin  ;  she  sat  calmly 
and  looked  up  as  he  approached,  with  her  usual  fearless 
gaze.  Senorita  Isabella  seemed  to  sink  into  the 
lounge,  as  though  to  escape  his  anger.  As  for  myself, 
I  felt  anything  hut  agreeably  disposed  for  the  storm 
I  imagined  ready  to  burst  upon  us. 

"Madam,"  and  Father  Anselmo  drew  himself  up 
with  more  than  usual  dignity  and  hauteur,  "  allow  me 
to  ask  how  you  acquired  such  a  knowledge  of  the  Catho 
lic  church  as  you  seem  to  possess,  from  what  you  have 
already  said,  while  thoroughly  impregnated  with  the 
opinions  of  schismatics  ?  " 

"  With  pleasure,  Father  Anselmo  :  indeed,  in  consid 
eration  of  your  great  kindness  to  me  and  mine,  I  feel 
it  my  duty  to  answer  all  your  questions  as  candidly  and 
explicitly  as  you  wish,  and  in  order  to  do  so,  I  must  call 
up  some  buried  memories  of  my  childhood,  which  seem 
to  me  like  a  waking  dream.  Do  you  wish  me  to  parti 
cularize,  Father  ?  " 

"  I  will  listen,"  said  he,  with  frigid  politeness,  as  he 
drew  a  chair  and  seated  himself  near  us. 


188  ALTHA. 

• 

"  In  commencing,"  said  Mrs.  Marvin,  "  I  will  explain 
my  emotion  of  yesterday." 

"  As  you  please,"  said  he,  "  I  have  no  doubt  you  had 
good  reasons  for  being  agitated." 

"  Thank  you  ;  it  is  so  difficult  to  keep  one's  feelings 
always  under  control." 

"  Yes ;  proceed." 

I  was  quite  irritated  towards  the  priest  for  the  cool 
important  manner  he  had  assumed  for  the  occasion,  how 
ever,  it  seemed  advisable  not  to  notice  it.  I  was  likewise 
anxious  to  hear  the  story. 


CHAPTEE    XXIII. 

ONCE  I  had  a  brother,  by  me  dearly,  oh  yes,  wildly 
loved!  but  years  —  long  dreary  years — he  has  been 
lost,  for  I  know  not  at  what  season  he  was  called  from 
earth,  to  him  a  home  of  trial,  nor  where  his  precious 
dust  reposes.  He  left  in  the  morning  of  his  days,  in 
the  first  flush  of  his  bright  youth,  and  no  tidings  ever 
reached  us  of  his  fate. 

There  was  something,  Father  Anselino,  in  your  man 
ner  and  tone,  last  evening,  that  reminded  me  so  much 
of  him,  that  I  could  not  suppress  my  emotions,  and  it 
has  been  ever  thus  since  he  went  away. 

With  every  tone  or  word,  however  lightly  spoken,  and 
every  feature  that  I  see  resembling  his  own,  I  start  and 
turn  pale,  or  quiver  with  the  half-frensied,  expectant 
longing  for  his  dear  presence,  feeling  there  is  but  a 
small  space  between  us,  and  that  he  is  waiting  to  clasp 
me  in  a  brother's  earnest  embrace.  Alas !  that  vain 
chimera  vanishes,  and  I  fall  back  again  in  utter  hope- 


190  ALT  HA. 

lessness  as  I  hear  the  frozen,  icy  words  lost,  lost,  for 
ever.  It  was  in  an  evil  hour,  and  under  strong  temp 
tation,  that  Edwin  left  us.  He  was  suspected  of  having 
been  witness  or  abettor  of  some  wrong  dealing  towards 
his  employer,  who  was  also  his  and  our  guardian,  and 
held  a  large  property  in  trust  for  us,  left  by  our  deceased 
father. 

Father  Anselmo's  fingers  trembled  slightly,  and  he 
raised  his  hand  nervously  to  his  head  But  only  the 
white  locks  drooped1  a  little  lower  from  beneath  the 
cowl,  shading  more  effectually  than  ever  the  counten 
ance  of  the  old  man. 

All  search  for  poor  Edwin  proved  fruitless,  and 
Deacon  Breck  could  gain  no  knowledge  of  his  missing 
property,  or  the  depradators,  who  had  infested  his  pre- 
jnises.  He,  therefore,  made  this  excuse  serve  his  pur 
pose  for  withholding,  not  only  my  brother's,  but  all  of 
my  sister's  and  my  own  property,  with  a  large  share  of 
my  mother's  portion.  Children,  though  we  were,  we 
were  thrown  upon  our  own  resources,  and  our  dear 
mother's  failing  health  and  energies  soon -aroused  us  to 
every  exertionT  Yet  again,  death,  cold  and  relentless, 
severed  the  chain  that  bound  us  to  earth.  We  were 


ALTHA.  391 

orphans,  and  alone !  Our  mother  had  gone  home, 
where  the  blue  ether  hides  her  spirit  from  our  longing 
gaze,  and  we  were  left  to  struggle  on  in  this  mid  uncer 
tain  light  of  earth.  Thanks  to  a  few  kind  friends,  we 
were  not  left  entirely  desolate  with  this  fresh  bereave 
ment.  0,  indeed,  we  were  grateful  to  our  friends  for 
all  their  kind  words  and  ready  sympathy,  which  was  of 
great  benefit  to  us,  to  gain  an  education,  or  rather  finish 
the  one  our  parents  had  planned  and  commenced. 

Geneva,  for  that  was  my  sister's  name,  always  fell  in 
with  pious,  kind-hearted  people,  and  consequently  glided 
along  smoothly  and  pleasantly.  She  had  a  strong  will, 
decided  in  every  purpose,  firm  and  unyielding  in  the 
path  of  right.  She  became  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church  where  she  resided,  —  exemplary  and  beloved.  I 
loved  her  none  the  less,  nay,  rather  revered  her  for  this, 
although  myself  so  differently  situated.  Eeligion,  with 
my  young  companions,  was  a  subject  of  ridicule,  and  a 
by-word.  They  seemed  to  feel  a  serious  countenance 
and  a  sanctimonious  air,  as  they  expressed  it,  to  be 
dreaded ;  and  who  of  our  class-mates  dare  read  the 
Bible,  for  fear  of  being  pointed  out  as  pious,  by  the  rest. 
I  often  felt  vexed  at  their  wrong  impressions  and  their 


192  ALTHA. 

want  of  nobleness,  their  utter  want  of  independence, 
that  feared  to  look  anything  in  its  face  or  try  to  discover 
its  horrible  shape.  But  I  had  the  power  to  love  my 
friends,  devotedly,  perhaps  too  well,  for  I  was  often 
made  to  feel  the  insufficiency  of  human  friendship  to 
perfect  happiness.  Still,  there  was  always  some  kind 
friend  or  generous  acquaintance,  to  aid  me  with  sympa 
thy  or  counsel.  Through  the  influence  of  some  of  these 

noble  friends,  I   was  admitted   into  Madam   E 's 

school,  situated  in  a  delightful  retreat,  a  few  miles  from 

the  modern  Athens  of  America.     Madam  E was  a 

thoroughly  accomplished  lady.  My  sympathies  were 
enlisted  whenever  she  spoke  of  the  destruction  of  the 
Ursuline  Convent,  where  she  had  been  educated ;  and  the 
more  I  loved  her  the  more  anxious  I  was  to  become 
acquainted  with  Catholic  institutions. 

In  justice  to  her,  I  must  say,  she  always  left  us,  with 
regard  to  religious  sentiments,  entirely  unbiased  in  our 
opinions.  I  wondered  that  she  would  not  advise  me  to 
enter  the  convent  walls  too.  However,  all  our  pleasant 
chats  upon  the  subject  would  amount  to  this  :  "  I  know, 
a  thorough  education  is  desirable  ;  but,  then,  what  sacri 
fice,  what  powers  of  self-denial,  and  endurance  to  gain 


ALTHA.  193 

it,  to  live  within  those  sombre  walls.  Besides,  one  needs 
to  have  their  principles  established,  together  with  a 
strong,  yea,  a  stubborn  will,  else  they  would  succumb 
to  the  influence  around  them,  so  completely  isolated  from 
the  world." 

I  felt  mortified :  did  she  doubt  my  strength  of  pur 
pose,  my  rectitude  of  principle.  No ;  but  she  had 
lived  and  knew  it  to  be  ever  thus.  •  In  the  pride  of 
our  young  life,  ere  temptation  has  assailed  our  weak 
points,  we  feel  strong  as  a  Sampson  '  bearing  the  gates 
of  the  city  ; '  yet,  how  many,  living  along  in  a  wearying 
round  of  duty,  and  endless  monotony  of  existence,  with 
out  an  object  to  direct  or  cheer,  would  not  pine  for  the 
voice  of  sympathy,  yea,  almost  kneel  and  worship  one 
bringing  even  a  ray-light  of  love  and  affection,  where 
numbers  might  command  and  entreat  in  vain  for  a  like 
homage." 

"  My  daughter,"  said  Father  Anselmo,  "  thou  hast 
spoken  truly.  Oh !  why  must  we  love,  why  must  we 
suffer,  ere  we  can  see  the  path  of  duty  ?  How  many," 
said  he,  clasping  his  hands  convulsively,  "  how  many 
have  I  seen  rise,  pale  and  affrighted,  with  the  ciy  of 
agony,  'Oh!  God,  I  have  sinned,'  and  folding  the 
pinions  of  innocence,  lie  down  in  the  dust  to  mourn. 
17 


194  ALTHA. 

But  they  dare  not  die.  No  ;  they  must  live  on,  although 
existence  but  adds  a  deeper  shame,  though  life  prove  a 
hitter  curse.  But  go  on,"  said  he,  "  though  my  heart 
must  bleed  for  the  fallen,  I  will  not  mar  your  joy  with 
such  bitter  lessons." 

Mrs.  Marvin  continued :  "  My  life  was  constantly  sub 
ject  to  change.  At  the  expiration  of  a  twelvemonth 
after  I  entered  the  seminary,  my  loved  teacher  was 
married,  and  removed  a  long  journey  to  the  west,  while 
I  was  left  again  upon  "  life's  broad  ocean,  without  rudder 
or  compass."  But  a  kind  Providence  opened  to  me  a 
new  door  and  furnished  new  friends,  and  with  a  hopeful 
heart,  I  counted  the  tall  spires,  and  noticed  the  big  trees 
rising  so  fatherly-like  above  the  pretty  village  we  were 
entering.  It  was  situated  just  a  pleasant  drive  from 
the  eity,  and  afforded  every  facility  for  pleasure  and 
happiness.  For  the  next  two  years  I  enjoyed  advan 
tages  from  the  best  of  masters.  An  Episcopal  clergyman, 
who  was  much  respected,  and  dearly  beloved,  kindly 
directed,  in  part,  my  studies.  Even  now,  how  truly  I  love 
him,  and  his  gentle  lady-wife.  But  they  never  dreamed 
that  beneath  my  calm,  cold  exterior,  there  beat  a  heart 
brimming  o'er  with  affection,  where  they  too,  were  sacredly 
enshrined.  But  a  new  query  aroused  me  from  my  dream 


ALTHA.  195 

of  peace  and  serenity.  Would  I  join  a  few  of  my  class 
mates  who  were  going  to  be  confirmed  upon  the  next  visit 
of  the  Bishop  ?  I  was  startled  into  the  inquiry  —  What 
right  had  I  to  do  so  ?  was  I  a  Christian  ?  I  loved  the 
clergyman  and  his  lady,  consequently  I  loved  their  reli 
gion  ;  nay,  more,  I  loved  the  deep  impassioned  lessons  of 
the  church ;  its  few  ceremonies,  its  impressive  prayers. 
The  heaven  "breathing  music  from  the  fine  old  organ, 
the  glorious  chant,  the  solemn  pause,  all  seemed  tinged 
with  heavenly  love-light,  a  holy  calm  just  suited  to  my 
dreamy  temperament.  However,  these  were  not  in  ac 
cordance  with  the  requirements  of  my  mother's  church,  — 
all  that  was  needful  to  make  me  a  Christian  ;  I  must 
meet  with  a  great  change ;  some  remarkable  impres 
sions,  that  would  affect  all  of  my  future  life.  I  walked 
home  from  school  that  day,  pondering  upon  the  subject ; 
locking  the  door  of  my  room,  I  sat  down,  to  examine 
more  fully,  to  learn,  if  indeed  these  things  were  so.  I 
heeded  not  the  kindly  call,  where  Jesus  says,  "  I  am 
the  good  shepherd,  through  whom  is  the  way  and  the 
life."  My  eye  rested  upon  the  creed,  "  I  believe  in  the 
holy  Catholic  church.'  Many  times  I  had  repeated  this 
sentence,  without  asking  the  simple  question,  what  or 


196  ALTHA. 

where  is  the  Catholic  church  ?  In  history  I  had  passed 
it  without  comment,  or  thought  of  it  as  having  existed, 
with  all  its  cruelties  and  evils,  only  in  the  dark  ages ; 
of  course,  such  barbarisms  were  no  longer  extant  among 
this  enlightened  nation.  The  next  day  I  applied  to  one 
of  my  classmates,  the  daughter  of  a  high-churchman, 
'twas  said.  To  solve  the  mystery,  "  Adaline,"  said  I, 
"  are  the  Episcopal  and  Catholic  churches  alike  ? " 
"  Alike !  "  her  eye  flashed  and  her  cheek  flushed  with 
anger.  "  No,"  she  answered,  "  they  are  widely,  essen 
tially  different." 

"  Do  they  believe  alike  ?  " 

"  No ;  and  if  they  say  so,  they  lie  and  contradict 
themselves.  If  out  but  a  step  from  us,  they  cannot  be 
like  us.  They  are  schismatics.  If  you  had  applied 
to  your  kind  pastor,  he  would  have  satisfied  your  mind 
by  pointing  out  to  you  the  falsehood,  idolatry  and  priest 
craft  that  had  crept  into  the  Catholic  church,  previous  to 
the  Reformation,  until  the  religion  of  Jesus  had  been 
lost  sight  of,  through  man's  invention.  I  know  it  now, 
Father  Anselmo,"  said  Mrs.  Marvin,  smiling,  "  yet, 
please  remember,  I  was  quite  a  child  then,  groping 
around  like  a  blind  man,  or  drifted,  with  every  current, 


ALTHA.  197 

like  a  boat  without  rudder  or  compass.  However,  in 
order  to  enlighten  me,  Adaline  lent  me  her  catechism, 
prayer-hook,  mass-hook  and  some  lives  of  the  saints, 
which  were  much  in  favor  in  their  church.  I  even 
visited  the  city,  and  attended  one  of  the  first  Catholic 
churches.  To  me  it  seemed  full  of  imposing  ceremonies, 
that  effectually  do  away  the  word  of  God,  and  make  it 
of  none  effect.  I  was  constantly  confounded  with  the 
multiplicity  of  ceremony,  and  the  lessons,  which  re 
quired  so  much  time  to  learn  and  retain,  besides  the 
sermons  and  prayers,  many  of  them  were  in  Latin, 
which  I  did  not  understand.  The  more  I  read  the 
Bible,  and  the  books  that  Adaline  had  lent  me,  and 
compared  them,  the  more  I  was  decided,  that  I  could 
not  make  a  good  Catholic." 

"  But,  did  you  not  soon  learn  that  you  would  not  be 
allowed  to  read  the  Bible,  except  under  the  eye  or  direc 
tion  of  the  priest  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Ethan  ;  but  there  must  have  been  '  a  little  of 
the  leaven  of  the  old  lump,'  that  caused  our  ancestors 
so  much  trouble,  in  my  composition.  I  would  not  be 
lieve  in  the  Pope's  power  to  absolve  from  sin,  because  I 
learned,  '  the  sacrifice  of  Christ's  blood  was  the  only 
remission  for  sin ;'  neither  could  I  pray  to  the  Virgin 


198  ALTHA. 

Mary,  when  I  had  from  infancy  been  accustomed  to  re 
peat,  '  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven.' " 

"  It  seems  you  learned  quite  early,  to  pass  un 
heeded  all  the  minor  finger-posts  and  charts  pointing 
to  Heaven's  gate,  heeding  only  the  all-important  direc 
tions  through  Jesus  Christ.  You  there,  Don  Venicia, 
concealed  by  the  window  drapery  ;  'tis  fortunate  I  am 
surrounded  by  friends,  these  gloomy  shadows  can  hide 
so  many  listeners." 

In  answer,  Don  Venicia  Taiscd  his  dagger  half-mcna- 
cingly  over  Mrs.  M.,  then  sheathing  it,  occupied  a  seat 
near  her  as  she  continued  : 

"  Death  again  invaded  the  happy  home  where  I  re 
sided  ;  my  friend,  the  father  of  that  cherished  famity, 
gave  up  his  schemes,  his  ambition,  his  love,  to  become  a 
tenant  of  the  cold  and  quiet  grave.  Our  house  was 
draped  with  black,  our  hearts  were  covered  with  mourn 
ing.  How  beautifully  and  appropriately  it  has  been 
written,  '  mourn  for  the  living  and  not  for  the  dead.' 
I  might  have  been  houseless  and  homeless,  had  it  not 
been,  my  sister's  hospitable  mansion  loomed  up  in  the 
distance ;  soon  entering  upon  the  cares  and  duties  of 
wedded  life,  I  imagined  myself  entirely  forgotten  by  tliu 
gifted  pastor  and  my  early  associates.  I  was  only 


ALTHA.  199 

reconciled  to  be  forgotten,  as  it  spared  me  from  giving 
them  pain  by  relating  the  doubts  and  vexations  I  had 
experienced  while  blindly  endeavoring  to  search  out  the 
right  way." 

"  And  what  are  you  now  ?  "  inquired  Don  Venicia, 
who  was  a  privileged  character  everywhere. 

"  I  know  not  what  you  will  call  me,"  replied  Mrs. 
Marvin,  smiling.  "  I  have  adopted  as  my  creed 
the  simple  lessons  of  '  Jesus  of  Nazareth.'  " 

Father  Anselmo  arose  and  laying  his  hand  upon 
Altha's  brow,  reverently  pronounced  a  blessing.  Mrs. 
M.  clasped  the.  monks  hand  within  her  own ;  as  she  bent 
above  it  I  saw  a  tear  fall  from  her  drooping  lids  and 
glisten  upon  his  hand.  Her  attitude,  so  full  of  rever 
ence  and  love,  again  filled  my  mind  with  suspicion  and 
envy. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

"  Dost  thou  deem  it 
Such  an  easy  task  from  the  fond  heart 
To  root  affection  out. " 

"  WELL,"  said  plain  common-sense,  looking  famil 
iarly  over  iny  shoulder,  "  it  7s  high  time  you  were  off, 
now  your  attentions  are  not  required  ;  it  is  an  impera 
tive  duty  for  you  to  look  after  your  own  affairs  a  bit." 
"  I  know  it,"  said  I,  echoing  the  phantom  tone,  "  but  I 
cannot  leave  without  speaking  to  Altha  to  share  my 
future.  Her  presence  is  really  necessary  to  my  happi 
ness  and  prosperity,  nay,  my  very  existence." 

"  Certainly,"  said  the  phantom,  mockingly,  and  in 
cold,  provoking  tones.  "  Why  not  ask  her  then?" 

"  Why,  1  atn  going  to ;  yes ;  I  am  decided  ;  to-morrow 
I  '11  broach  the  subject,  and  learn  the  worst,  if  worst 
there  is  in  store  for  me.  But  there  can  be  no  need  to 
fear." 

"  No  need  to  fear  "  tauntingly  echoed  the  phantom,  as 
in  sleepless  vexation  I  tossed  upon  my  couch  until  dawn. 


ALT  HA.  201 

The  morrow  had  come  at  last.  So  to  every  weary 
lagging  night  succeeds  a  new,  if  not  a  brighter  day.  I 
waited  until  Senorita  Isabella  was  engaged  in  the  chapeL 
Father  Anselmo  had  started  upon  one  of  his  accustomed 
rides,  and  Don  Juan,  I  fancied,  was  out  of  the  way,  no 
one  knew  where.  Mataka  was  asleep  under  her  little 
lace  house,  watched  by  her  affectionate  African  attend 
ant,  while  Mrs.  Marvin  had  taken  the  paper,  and  re 
moved  to  the  parlor  sofa.  I  ventured  forth,  feeling  like 
a  culprit  going  forward  to  hear  his  sentence  of  life  or 
death,  every  nerve  alive  and  thrilling  with  hope  of  re 
prieve,  while  the  very  heart-strings  are  cracking  with 
the  fear  that  an  unpropitious  fate  awaits  him. 

Mrs.  Marvin  looked  up,  smiled  her  welcome,  and  laid 
aside  her  paper  at  my  approach.  Often  before  I  had 
tried  to  speak  to  her,  but  had  not  sufficient  courage  to 
do  so.  Even  at  that  moment  I  felt  it  to  be  the  most 
difficult  thing  I  ever  attempted  to  do.  My  lips  com 
pressed,  a  red  spot  burned  on  each  cheek ;  I  had  found  it 
an  easy  matter  to  make  love  to  others  ;  but  then,  I  had 
reasoned,  she  is  such  a  different  character.  She  mo 
tioned  me  to  a  seat  beside  her ;  every  limb  trembled 
with  excitement ;  yet,  why  need  I  fear  ?  she  certainly 


202  ALT  II  A. 

would  not  cherish  any  great  sorrow  for  her  husband ; 
how  could  she,  for  whom  she  had  suffered  so  much  ? 
He,  perhaps,  contributed  but  little  to  her  happiness. 
True,  I  never  discovered  anything  but  the  most  earnest 
affection  and  unwearied  tenderness  ;  yet  she  had  made 
many  sacrifices  for  his  comfort.  Now,  she  was  alone. 

"  Squire  Eldridge,  you  seem  sad  this  morning.  Have 
you  received  unpleasant  news  ?  " 

"  No  bad  news,  Mrs.  Marvin ;  but  I  propose  return 
ing  to  San  Francisco  to-morrow, " 

"Do  you  indeed?"  and  a  cloud  rested  upon  her  fea 
tures. 

"  Yes,  and  have  sought  you  this  morning,  to  acquaint 
you  with  my  hopes  that  you  will  accompany  me,  or  come 
when  I  call  you,  when  I  would  come  for  you." 

Her  head  leaned  forward  her  eyelids  closed,  and  her 
cheek  was  pale  as  marble ;  her  lip  quivered,  as  I  had 
seen  it  upon  one  or  two  previous  occasions.  Surely,  some 
cruel  pain  must  have  entered  her  heart,  to  cause  such 
emotion.  I  took  her  hand  ;  it  rested  in  mine,  sending 
a  thrill  of  hope  through  every  nerve. 

"  Ethan,  I  thank  you ;  but  am  wholly  unprepared  for 
this.  I  have  thought  of  you  as  a  brother,  as  one,  you 


ALT  HA.  203 

are  very  dear  to  me,  and  your  kindness, — how  large  the 
debt  of  gratitude  I  owe  you  ?  May  God  "bless  and  re 
ward  you.  With  love  such  as  you  require,  I  cannot  repay 
you  ;  mine  is  in  the  grave.  Indeed  I  may  say  Love's 
flowers  have  withered,  its  fires  gone  out.  I  am  left  to 
mourn  over  the  mouldering  ruins,  the  blackened  frag 
ments,  the  heart  a  wreck  of  hopes  and  fears." 

''But,  Altha,  think  of  Mataka,  —  think  of  your 
child." 

"  To  Him  who  provides  for  the  sparrows  I  can  safely 
comniQnd  my  child." 

"  Still  I  think  of  you,  and,  my  dear  friend,  sadly  it 
grieves  me  to  give  you  one  moment's  pain."  I  sprung 
up  and  crossed  the  room.  I  would  fain  grind  out  the 
unoffending  carpet  beneath  my  feet.  The  unmanly 
tear  would  start.  Pressing  my  hands  over  my  eyes,  I  sat 
down  by  the  table,  and  leaned  my  head  upon  it.  Altha 
had  spoken  so  kindly,  yet  so  decidedly,  shutting  out 
every  gleam  of  hope,  that  I  had  no  power  to  move  from 
the  room,  nor  to  subdue  the  fierce  passion  raging  within 
me.  I  forgot  her  presence,  and  was,  alike  unconscious 
of  the  time  that  was  hastening  on,  and  everything,  but 
the  agony,  mingled  with  anger  and  shame ;  and  this 


204  ALTHA. 

must  be  some  of  the  monk's  influence.  Fool  that  I  had 
been,  to  trust  her  in  his  power. 

A  gentle  touch  upon  my  arm,  a  soft  hand  raised  my 
head,  and  Mrs.  Marvin  pressed  her  fingers  upon  my 
brow  and  smoothed  back  the  disordered  hair.  I  was 
powerless,  else  I  might  have  rudely  thrown  off  that 
gentle  hand. 

"Good  God!"  I  exclaimed,  "what  more  can  I  bear?" 

"  Ethan,  Ethan !  my  more  than  brother !  it  will  kill 
me  to  see  you  thus." 

She  bent  down  and  imprinted  a  kiss  upon  my  fore 
head.  How  soothing,  how  cooling  to  my  burning  brain  ? 
All  my  faculties  stood  still.  "Was  it  because  hcr's  was 
now  the  stronger  will,  and  mine  must  submit?  She 
smiled  so  sweetly,  making  me  forget  the  bitterness  I 
had  felt. 

"  Ethan,  you  will  not  regret  my  decision.  Your's  is  a 
noble  destiny.  I  feel  it — I  know  it.  Your  ambition 
will  lead  you  on  ;  it  will  be  your  glory,  your  pride,  to 
labor  for  the  advancement  of  your  race.  You  will  em 
ulate  your  noble  countrymen  in  every  good  work.  No 
selfishness  will  blind  you,  no  petty  cares  make  you  for- 


A  L  T  H  A .  205 

get  a  duty ;  and  happier  still,  your  hope  is  staid  on 
heaven/' 

There  I  sat,  as  calmly  as  though  every  passion  had 
died  beneath  the  magic  of  her  touch,  the  potency  of  her 
words.  She  held  out  her  hand ;  I  pressed  it  fervently 
to  my  lips  ;  she  walked  away  ;  I  had  no  right  to  com 
plain,  and  must  see  my  cherished  plans  frustrated,  —  yet, 
I  must  learn  to  endure  it.  I  hastened  from  the  room 
and  stept  out  upon  the  verandah.  Where  was  my  hat  ? 
I  would  return  to  the  parlor  for  it.  Mrs.  Marvin  was 
negligently  reclining  upon  the  divan,  and  weeping  pas 
sionately.  I  sprung  forward  and  kneeling  beside  her, 
clasped  those  listless  fingers. 

"  Tell  me,  0  tell  me,  for  it  is  my  turn  to  question, 
why  do  you  weep  ?  Do  you  repent  your  cruel  decision  ? 
Give  me  the  power  to  make  you  happy,  and  I  will  be 
your  slave." 

She  arose  with  a  calm  more  fearful  than  the  spent 
storm ;  her  eye  flashed,  her  form  raised  proudly,  and 
from  those  pallid  lips  burst  a  faint  though  stern  com 
mand, 

"  No,  no  !  I  tell  you,  no  !  and  raising  her  hand,  she 
pointed  homeward  ;  "  in  that  loved  though  distant  land, 
18 


206  ALT  II  A. 

you  have  left  a  beautiful,  happy  bride,  and  a  fair  des 
tiny  awaits  you.  Go  ! " 

I  sprang  from  her  presence,  in  my  haste  overturning 
everything  that  came  in  my  way.  Even  now,  I  look 
back  upon  that  scene  with  little  less  of  calmness,  think 
ing  she  must  have  been  a  wonder  of.  a  woman.  Taking 
a  few  turns  in  the  garden,  I  was  suddenly  brought  to  a 
stand,  by  running  against  Father  Anselmo,  who  pre 
sented  too  formidable  an  obstacle  in  my  way  for  me  to 
run  over.  Although  he  must  have  noticed  my  fearful 
agitation,  he  made  no  comment,  but  quietly  drawing 
my  arm  within  his  own,  we  turned  aside  into  a  quiet, 
lovely  walk. 

"Father  Anselmo,  I  must  go  to  San  Francisco  to 
night." 

"  Must  you,  my  son  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  must." 

"  My  son,  remain  with  us  one  more  night,  and,  to 
morrow,  if  you  wish,  I  will  send  an  escort  with  you." 

"  But  I  cannot  stay." 

"  My  son,  is  your  business  so  very  urgent  ?  " 

"No,  Father  ;  but  Altha " 

«  What  of  her  ?    You  love  her  ?  " 


ALTHA.  207 

"I  dad!" 

"  And  she  cannot  return  it  ?  " 

"  Exactly." 

"  I  thought  as  much." 

I  felt  angry  with  him :  some  more  of  his  influence, 
thought  I. 

He  continued :  "  No  wonder,  poor  child, ;  her  past 
experience  makes  her  fear  to  hope ;  her  heart  is  like 
this  vase,"  and  he  touched  with  his  foot  a  beautiful  ala- 
haster  one  standing  heside  the  walk.  "  Some  months 
ago,"  said  he,  "  upon  this  hed  of  sweetbriar,  I  noticed 
this  vase,  that  some  careless  hand  had  dropped,  severed 
in  twain.  I  come  again  ;  the  weeds  and  the  briar  had 
grown,  lifting  up  the  broken  pieces  of  the  vase,  and 
wreathing  around  it,  had  bound  it  together,  when  the 
dust  of  time,  the  morning  sun  and  evening  dew  had 
formed  a  cement  impervious  to  the  storm,  leaving 
only  this  weather-beaten  seam.  Now,  it  fills  with  the 
soft  rain  and  gentle  dew,  repaying  a  thousand  fold  of 
life  and  nourishment  to  the  friendly  vine.  Even  so  it 
will  be  with  Altha's  heart  and  life  ;  but  we  must  wait." 

I  was  touched  with  the  beauty  of  the  simile,  and 


208  ALTHA. 

vexed  with  myself  for  harboring  one  ungenerous  thought 
towards  him.  He  went  on  : — 

"  My  daughter  has  well  spoken  ;  unto  her  is  given  a 
golden  chalice  filled  with  flowers  immortal ;  therefore, 
let  her  remain  in  some  quiet  retreat,  to  watch  each  un 
folding  germ  of  leaf  and  hud,  and  full  expanding 
flower  —  heaven's  bright  gifts !  —  then,  one  by  one,  fling 
them  forth  upon  the  winning  wings  of  hope  and  love  to 
cheer  some  lone  despairing  heart  within  this  'wide, 
wide  world,  which  has  been  to  her  a  parent  and  a  friend.' 
These  flowers  would  shine  less  bright  cast  upon  the  altar 
of  fashion,  where  beauty  dazzles,  and  flattery,  with 
siren  whisper,  lingers,  and  the  tempting  whirl  of  pleas 
ure  draws  one  on,  on,  until  even  the  wreath  which 
binds  the  brow  of  genius  is  forgotten,  and  the  flowers 
have  paled  and  withered  beneath  the  glare  and  glitter 
and  care  of  pomp  and  show ;  the  languid  spirit  filled  to 
satiety,  and  ennui  longs  in  vain  for  peace  and  quiet 
happiness. 

As  we  neared  the  chapel  gate,  Father  Anselmo  left 
me  standing  beneath  the'  sweet-scented  magnolia,  its 
white  blossoms  filling  the  air  with  fragrance.  I  drew 
my  hat  over  my  eyes,  and  travelled  back  over  memory's 
pathway.  Well,  here  am  I,  having  left  a  country  full 


ALTHA.  209 

of  light  and  intelligence,  far  over  the  wide  blue  sea, 
and  come  out  here,  to  mingle  with  the  heathen  the  idol 
ater,  and  the  Jew,  interspersed  with  here  and  there  a 
Christian  of  the  cross,  and  for  what  ?  to  learn  that  the 
wisdom  of  life  is  love.  Surely  there  is  some  overruling 
hand  in  this,  and  we  must  acknowledge  the  power  we 
cannot  see. 

I  acknowledged  the  presence  of  the  Deity,  the  bless 
ing  of  life,  and  the  wisdom  of  eternity,  and  there  the 
spirit  breathed  forth  its  first  yielding,  supplicating, 
soul-full  prayer 

The  chapel  organ  sounded  a  glorious  anthem ;  the 
Te  Deum  swelled  upon  the  morning  breeze,  making  the 
green  leaves  thrill  with  the  rush  of  harmony.  I  thought 
of  Altha  and  her  singular  prophecy.  Had  she  the 
power  of  the  sybil,  to  read  the  future  ?  No !  0  no ! 
Yet  what  is  that  vaunted  power  but  a  deeper  knowledge 
of  the  intricacies  of  the  human  heart  ?  I  was  aroused 
by  the  rustle  of  a  dress,  and,  looking  up,  saw  Senorita 
Isabella  passing  to  the  house  from  the  chapel.  I  drew 
her  arm  within  my  own,  for  her  face  always  wore  a 
gleam  of  sunshine  sufficient  to  make  me  feel  quite  happy 
in  her  presence. 

We  separated  beneath  the  portico,  and  I  turned  off  to 


210  ALTHA. 

visit  the  menage,  to  sec  if  my  pony,  who  had  been  hav 
ing  a  long  rest,  was  in  good  condition  for  the  morrow. 

I  took  a  stroll  around  the  grounds,  visited  some  of 
the  work-people,  and,  furthermore,  busied  myself  with 
preparations  for  my  journey  until  the  gong  sounded 
for  dinner.  I  had  thought  I  could  not  meet  Mrs.  Mar 
vin  again.  However,  I  boldly  entered  the  dining  hall, 
experiencing  a  slight  twinge  of  vexation,  which  vanished 
in  a  moment  All  seemed  cheerful  as  usual,  except 
Mrs.  Marvin,  who,  as  I  glanced  toward  her,  appeared  a 
shade  more  thoughtful,  if  possible,  than  was  habitual 
with  her. 

I  chatted  with  Isabella,  telling  her  of  my  journey  in 
perspective,  and  bidding  her  watch  for  me  about  the 
eighth  hour  in  morning,  from  the  east  window  of  the 
chapel,  for  the  little  white  flag  she  had  playfully  made 
to  adorn  my  horse's  head,  telling  me  that  it  bore  a 
charm  to  insure  success  in  all  my  journeyings. 

After  the  meats  had  been  removed  and  the  desert 
brought  upon  the  table,  Mrs.  Marvin  placed  her  finger 
upon  an  exquisite  spiral  shell  lying  upon  the  table,  it 
was  filled  with  a  coil  of  silver  wire  that  vibrated  with 
the  touch  and  produced  sweet  musical  sounds ;  it  was 
a  Chinese  toy,  of  great  beauty  and  ingenuity,  picked  up 


ALT1IA,  211 

by  our  eccentric  host  during  his  travels  in  the  East. 
As  the  sounds  died  away,  Mataka  entered  and  glided  to 
a  seat  beside  her  mother,  to  share  the  fruit  and  flowers. 
The  intelligent  Juba  stood  behind  her  chair,  her  eyes 
and  heart  swallowed  up  in  care  for  her  little  charge. 

"  Father  Anselmo,  I  have  become  so  attached  to  Juba, 
that  myself,  as  well  as  Mataka,  will  feel  unhappy  to 
part  with  her." 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  Marvin,  why  need  you  part  with  her  ?  " 

"  Since  this  is  her  home,  I  fear  you  would  question 
my  right  to  ask  her  to  leave  it  to  attend  on  me." 

".I  am  indeed  happy  if  she  considers  it  her  home; 
yet,  all  my  servants  are  free  to  go,  when  and  where 
they  choose,  if  they  can  do  better." 

"  Apropos  to  your  position,  Father  Anselmo.  We  may 
quote  the  language  of  our  immortal  friends  :  '  Liberty ! 
Freedom  !  Tyranny  is  dead !  Run  hence !  proclaim, 
cry  it  about  the  streets.' '; 

"  Thank  you,  Eldridge,  I  do  love  the  poet  who 
wrote : 

1  In  the  long  vista  of  the  years  to  roll, 

Let  me  not  see  my  country's  honor  fade  ; 
Oh !  let  me  see  our  land  retain  its  soul, 
Her  pride  in  Freedom,  and  not  Freedom's  shade.' 


212  ALTIIA. 

"  Mrs  Marvin,  our  friend  Eldridge  tells  me  you,  too, 
are  wonderfully  patriotic.  Here  is  to  your  success, 
raising  the  wine  to  his  lips,  I  do  not  drain  the  glass," 
said  he,  setting  it  aside  untasted,  "  I  eschewed  it  as  an 
evil  from  my  youth ;  I  suffered  on  account  of  it  ^  O, 
how  much.!  But,  my  dear  lady,  Avhat  were  you  talking 
of  leaving?" 

"  Father  Anselmo,  I  have  been  too  long  a  lingerer 
upon  your  bounty.  Our  feelings  do  so  twine  around 
cherished  spots  and  hallowed  memories.  It  is  time  I 
was  looking  for  some  employment  that  will  enable  me 
to  support  myself  and  child.  A  part  of  the  small  for 
tune  with  Avhich  I  left  the  States,  is  still  remaining ; 
thanks  to  our  noble  friend  Ethan,"  which  compliment 
she  accompanied  with  a  smile  of  gratitude.  "  However, 
it  would  not  last  long  to  live  in  luxury,  such  as  sur 
rounds  me  here.  I  would  not  have  Mataka  grow  up 
weak  and  indolent,  willing  to  eat  the  bread  of  charity 
or  subsist  upon  the  bounty  of  strangers." 

"  Pray  what  do  you  know?  what  can  you  do?  just 
nothing." 

His  tone  was  jesting  and  his  eye  was  full  of  mirth. 

"  Father  Anselmo,  how  do  you  know  what  I  can 
do?" 


ALTHA.  213 

"True,I  do 'nt  know,"  he  replied,  with  the  brevity 
of  language  with  which  he  occasionally  surprised  his 
listeners. 

Immediately  assuming  his  usual  grave  expression  of 
countenance,  he  continued : 

"  Supposing  you  are  saved  from  actual  want,  think 
of  the  hardship,  the  labor,  the  vexation  of  living  in 
this  busy,  bustling  world,  where,  seemingly,  all  virtue 
consists  in  looking  out  for  'number  one,'  before  you  re 
solve  to  try  it." 

"  I  have  thought  of  it,  Father ;  I  must  do  some 
thing.  I  do  not  fear  to  trust  my  frail  bark  upon  the 
sea  of  time,  and  struggle  with  the  waves  of  human 
energy,  for  a  position,  which  will  enable  me  to  live. 

"  Impossible ! " 

"  No  Father  ;  not  impossible.  I  might  fear  if  I  had 
never  tried  it ;  I  may  have  gained  strength  by  the  rude 
waves  of  adversity." 

"  I  will  think  of  this  and  talk  with  you  this  evening ; 
I  see  my  men  have  returned  from  San  Francisco  ;  I  must 
see  what  they  have  brought." 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

'*  The  web  of  our  life  is  a  mingled  yarn, 
Good  and  ill  together."  • 

SHAKSPEARE. 

THE  same  evening  we  assembled  again  in  the  family 
parlor,  percliance  for  the  last  time.  Was  it  chance  that 
guided  us  to  this  spot  ?  was  it  chance,  forming  the  web 
and  filling  the  woof  of  our  destiny  ?  We  may  not 
speculate  upon  such  Hind  theory,  lest  it  prove  obsolete 
beside  the  prescient  Power  shown  in  the  sequel. 

Mrs.  Marvin  sat  near  the  table,  engaged  in  stringing 
shells  for  Mataka.  She  looked  interesting,  even  in  her 
widow-weeds.  How  my  heart  yearned  towards  her.  I 
seemed  bursting  with  indignation  at  the  thought  of 
leaving  her  under  the  influence  of  the  monk.  He 
might  be,  even  as  I  had  conjectured,  the  bandit  chief. 
However,  Mrs.  Marvin  never  partook  of  my  suspicions. 

Isabella,  seated  upon  a  stool,  was  bending  over  her 
guitar,  which  rested  beside  her,  from  which  she  had 
played  the  air  while  delighting  us  with  some  of  her 


ALTHA.  215 

favorite  Spanish  songs.     Don  Juan  Venicia,  who  rarely 
favored  us  with  his  presence,  in  the  hack-ground  pour 
ing  over  the  evening  journal  for  news  of  the  outer  world; 
myself  seated  upon  an  opposite  side  of  the  tahle  from 
Mrs.  Marvin,   carelessly  surveyed  the  group.     Father 
Anselmo,  ahout  whose  life  and  purposes  there  seemed  so 
much  mystery,  leaned  hack  in  a  crimson  fauteuil,  non 
chalant  and  dignified.     He  had  paid  us  an  uncommon 
share  of  respect,  hy  laying  aside  that  ugly  cowl,  and 
donning  in  its  stead  a  cap  of  hlack  velvet  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  ornamented  with  a  golden  tassel ;  the 
the  coarse  cassock  and  girdle  had  heen  exchanged  for  a 
rohe  of  purple  velvet  with  gold  embroidery,  and  lined 
with  crimson  silk ;  a  mantle  of  India  muslin  and  wide 
lawn  inside  sleeves ;  a  diamond  star  hurned  upon  the 
left  breast,  which  added  to  the  picturesque  effect  of  his 
costume.     Its  high  color  and  unique  style  lent  a  look 
of  vigor  and  freshness  to  his  countenance,  not  quite  in 
keeping  with  the  long  white  locks  and  grey  beard  that 
floated  over  his  dress. 

"  Well,"  thought  I,  "  the  lawlessness  of  the  country, 
no  doubt,  has  some  effect  upon  him,  as  well  as  others 
who  pride  themselves  by  living  unshaven  and  unshorn. 


216  ALTHA. 

But  I  like  that  old  rusty  cassock,  with  its  happy  memo 
ries.  I  have  found  the  wearer's  heart  in  the  right 
place ;  but,  with  this  new  dress  of  THE  ORDER,  I  want 
the  assurance  that  he  is  one  of  us." 

He  spoke  to  Mrs.  Marvin,  who  laid  aside  her  needle 
and  shells,  and  paid  attention. 

"  My  daughter,  I  promised  to  talk  with  you  this  even 
ing,  concerning  your  future  plans ;  but  first  I  will  speak 
a  few  words  of  myself,  which  may  be  of  some  interest 
to  you.  My  birthplace  and  boyhood's  home  was  in  your 
own  dear  New  England,  where  the  rude  grey  rocks  and 
whispering  pines  strengthen  and  shelter  her  stalwart 
sons,  who  go  forth,  often  rough  and  unpolished,  yet 
strong  in  integrity.  I  was  a  proud-hearted,  impetuous 
youth,  my  very  fearlessness  leading  me  into  danger  and 
temptation.  1  stained  my  soul  by  draining  the  wine- 
cup,  and  sleeping  the  torpor  of  h 1 ;  awaking  to  a 

knowledge  of  a  crime  that  drove  me  from  my  home,  — 
no  matter  what.  The  knowledge  of  it  made  me  culpa 
ble,  and  I  must  fly,  or  stay  to  suffer  remorse  and  dis 
grace. 

"  I  choose  to  fly,  to  become  a  wanderer  in  foreign 
lands,  'neath  burning  suns,  mid  scorching  sands,  o'er 


ALTHA.  217 

hoary  crags  and  alpine  snows,  among  rich,  among  poor, 
even  to  the  lowest  depths  of  the  mean,  contemptible, 
groveling  of  human  kind,  and  to  the  highest  summit 
of  the  beautiful,  sublime,  glorious,  and  godlike  of  crea 
tion. 

"  My  mother  !  0,  my  mother  !  't  is  true  that  I  loved 
her,  yet  I  left  her,  without  one  farewell  word,  without 
even  a  mother's  blessing,  —  a  priceless  jewel  to  enrich  a 
lone  and  impoverished  heart.  My  sisters,  too ;  I  see 
them  now  standing  in  the  doorway,  as  I  turned  to  take 
a  last  fond  look  at  their  loved  forms  and  the  dear  old 
homestead. 

How  1  have  wailed  and  mourned  for  the  youngest, 
that  I  must  leave  her,  with  no  one  to  shield  or  protect  her. 
O,  worse  than  the  bitterness  of  death  is  the  memory  of 
our  follies. 

"  I  saw  her,  hair  waving  in  the  wind,  and  thought  of 
the  times  I  had  carried  her  in  (as  I  then  thought)  my 
strong  arms,  and  kissed,  with  boyish  sport,  the  golden 
curls  that  strayed  over  my  jacket. 

"  But  I  must  not  linger  over  these  bright  day-dreams 
of  my  youth  I  must  on.  There  was  no  time  to  weep 
o'er  what  1  was  leaving  or  going  to  lose.  I  must  reach 
19 


218  ALTHA. 

the  cove,  where  I  hoped  to  find  the  plotters  and  enactors 
of  the  wrong  for  which  I  should  suffer.  Their  boat  was 
launched  and  ready  to  sail.  I  sprung  into  the  water, 
and,  leaping  up,  caught  a  loose  rope  and  clambered 
over  the  sides,  scarcely  knowing  how,  and  manfully  as 
sisted  in  working  our  rude  fishing  craft  far  out  upon 
the  blue  water.  We  were  out  many  days,  at  times  cov 
ered  with  a  dense  fog,  —  we  were  nearly  famished.  We 
went  ashore  at  a  port  a  good  distance  from  our  own. 
Here  I  exchanged  my  dress  for  a  sailor's  suit,  and  ship 
ped  for  England,  subsequently  visiting  all  the  countries 
in  the  old  world,  encountering  storms  and  shipwrecks 
and  dangers  innumerable,  both  by  sea  and  land.  I 
soon  acquired  a  knowledge  of  many  languages  which 
often  saved  me,  in  the  hour  of  peril,  from  evil  and  from 
death. 

"  At  last  I  turned  my  steps  toward  this  partially  ex 
plored  country.  When  the  war  opened  between  Mexico 
and  the  United  States,  I  would  not  fight  against  my 
countrymen,  nor  against  a  people  whose  soil  nourished 
me,  or  whose  homes  had  given  me  a  night's  shelter. 

"Accordingly  I  followed  in  the  trail  of  the  army, 
doing  my  best  to  relieve  the  suffering,  the  wounded  and 


ALTHA.  219 

the  dying.  I  have  seen  ranks  of  my  countrymen  turn 
pale,  with  agony,  as  they  passed  a  fallen  comrade  hy  the 
wayside,  praying  them  for  a  cup  of  cold  water.  But, 
no  ;  the  ranks  must  not  he  broken,  the  march  must  not 
he  stayed,  their  laws  are  imperative.  They  must  on,  — 
shutting  their  eyes  and  ears  to  the  calls  of  a  "brother, 
and  their  hearts  to  the  voice  of  sympathy, 

"  What  wonder  then  if  men  learn  to  glory  in  the 

strife.  During  the  eve  succeeding  the  battle  of , 

which  had  been  remarkably  severe,  I  visited  the  field 
of  blood,  hoping  to  serve  my  countrymen,  if  any  living 
were  found  among  the  heaps  of  slain. 

"  I  found  a  wounded  officer,  who  had  fallen,  and  was 
lost,  sight  of,  and  forgotten  in  the  succeeding  rush  and 
carnage  ;  I  placed  my  canteen  to  his  parched  lips,  and 
sought  to  staunch  the  purple  life-tide  slowly  oozing  from 
his  arm  and  side.  . 

"  I  heard  a  foot-step  near.  I  looked  up ;  an  old  man, 
a  monk,  habited  in  a  grey  woollen  cassock  and  cowl, 
was  standing  near  us.  Said  he,  '  my  son,  may  God  bless 
you,  in  your  work  of  charity  and  mercy.  Let  me  assist 
you  to  raise  the  sufferer,  and  make  him  more  comfort 
able.'  We  did  so,  unfastening  the  gilded  trappings,  the 
blood-stained  emblems  of  his  worth  and  dreams  of 


220  ALTHA. 

earthly  glory.     The  earth  was  his  pillow,  covered  with  a 
blanket  and  another  spread  over  him,  which  we  had  found 
lying  near.      How  fervently   he  thanked  us  for  our 
attention.     I  watched  beside  him,  the  monk  going  now 
here,  now  there,  among  his  own  people.     Our's  was  a 
sad,  weary  task,  and  the  night  waned  ere  our  vigils 
were  ended.     The  general  ceased  breathing;  I  bent 
lower  over  him ;  the  conflict  was  ended ;  death  claimed 
the  soldier  and  the  man,  while  he  slept.     We  left  him 
there  to  share,  on  the  morrow,  a  common  burial,  from 
the  hands  of  the  victors.     May  the  angels  guard  his 
dust,  while  folding  their  wings  over  the  blood-stained 
field,  watching  o'er  the  unhonored  graves  of  the  van 
quished.     Our  task  was  done.     The  distant  watch-fires 
paled  in  the  morning  light.     The   battle  field    was 
hushed,  the  soldier  and  his  slain  charger  all  asleep,  yet 
cold,  stark  and  stiff,  marked  by  the  icy  hand  of  death. 
I  learned  to  hate  war  and  every  principle  of  oppression, 
even  with  the  effects  of  honourable  strife. 

"  My  son,"  said  the  monk,  as  we  neared  the  city, 
"  come  to  my  cell,  if  you  need  my  aid,  or  when  you  will. 
Call  me  Father  Joseph." 

"  I  thanked  him,  and  often,  when  the  army  was  rest 
ing  or  waiting  for  reinforcements,  I  sought  Father 


ALTHA.  221 

Joseph's  cell.  It  was  rude,  chill  and  gloomy.  The 
floor  was  of  dark  grey  stone,  the  roof  of  unhewn  timl>er, 
dark  and  time-stained,  rude  wooden  benches  and  a  stone 
pitcher  filled  with  water,  composed  the  furnishings  of 
the  cell.  He  awoke  in  me  a  thirst  for  knowledge  ; 
gladly  I  availed  myself  of  his  offer  to  become  my 
teacher  and  my  guide.  I  thought  it  must  be  easy  for 
him  to  live  a  virtuous  life,  one  so  good ;  surely  he  must 
be  happy.  I  remarked  the  same  to  him  one  evening 
while  we  were  conversing  together,  commenting  upon 
the  simplicity  of  his  style  of  living. 

"  My  son,"  said  he,  "  we  live,  we  labor  for  the  church 
for  coming  generations.  We  have  one  comfort,"  he 
added,  rising  and  walking  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
narrow  celL  He  touched  a  secret  spring,  the  wall 
opened  and  rolled  wide  apart,  disclosing  a  library,  the 
shelves  filled  with  a  long  array  of  dusky  volumes. 
Tome,  and  manuscript  of  parchment  piled  one  by  one,  a 
vast,  speaking,  living  monument  of  slumbering  ages,  — 
the  echoing  thought,  tramp  of  millions  gone  down  to 
the  dead.  Father  Joseph  seemed  to  enjoy  my  surprise 
for  a  few  moments.  The  walls  rolled  back  and  fas 
tened,  leaving  only  the  dingy  timbers  to  view. 
19* 


222  ALTHA. 

"  Beyond,"  said  the  monk,  "  are  many  passages  lead 
ing  to  the  church  ;  you  shall*  be  acquainted  with  all  in 
good  time.  I  became  a  noviciate,  and  learned  the 
sacred  duties  of  the  holy  order. 

"  I  found  no  trouble  while  Father  Joseph  lived,  for 
he  commanded  great  respect.  He  had  been  awarded 
priestly  orders,  honor  and  power;  yet,  he  chose  the 
plainest  garb  of  the  monastery,  and  the  simple  title  of 
Father  Joseph. 

"  One  day,  upon  visiting  his  cell,  after  having  per 
formed  a  commission  for  him,  I  found  him  ill  and  lying 
upon  his  hard  pallet. 

"  My  son,"  said-  he,  "  my  brief  race  is  almost  o'er,  I 
near  the  goal,  which  is  the  grave.  All  I  have  belongs 
to  the  church;  the  labor  of  a  life-time.  I  sometimes 
fear  I  cannot  get  to  Heaven :  that  I  have  not  done 
enough.  My  merits  are  few  compared  with  my  deserts. 
Stay  with  me  brother,  to  the  last." 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?  " 

"I  know,"  said  he,  "you  cannot  save  me,  yet 'tis 
pleasant  to  have  you  with  me  in  my  dying  moments." 

"  Do  you  suffer  much  pain  ?  "  I  asked. 

"  Oh !  I    should  not  mind  the  pain,  if  I  could  but 


ALTHA.  223 

know  that  I  shall  be  happy.  Oh!  must  I  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  Author  of  our  life,  a  living  and  a  just 
God." 

"  Think,"  said  I,  "  of  all  your  labors,  of  your  self- 
sacrificing  life,  your  devotion  to  the  church." 

"  But  all  my  good  works  go  for  nothing.  Oh !  I 
have  not  done  half  enough.  Upon  the  wings  of  thought 
came  rushing  my  sainted  father's  death-bed  scene,  and 
in  full  force  I  remembered  his  dying  words,  so  calm  and 
peaceful,  'though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  Death,  I  fear  no  evil ;  my  Saviour  is  with 
me.'" 

"  I  repeated  them ;  Father  Joseph  started  up  and 
gazed  wildly  around." 

"  Who  spoke  ?  "  he  exclaimed,  "  Brother,  did  you 
hear  ?  Those  are  not  the  words  of  our  church ;  yet,  I 
feel  at  this  moment  to  wish  them  true  ;  how  inexpressi 
bly  comforting  and  peaceful  at  this  moment.  How 
beautiful  a  Saviour  to  lean  upon." 

"  His  brothers  of  the  church,  appointed  to  the  office, 
came  in  to  anoint  him  with  the  holy  oil,  and  other  cere 
monies  required  by  the  church  for  the  dying.  And 
those  who  loved  him  will  contribute  their  mite  to  pur 
chase  masses  for  the  repose  of  his  soul.  The  same  ob- 


224  ALTHA. 

trusive  thought,  which  often  aroused  me,  reminded  me 
of  St.  Paul's  injunction :  '  Let  every  one  work  out  his 
own  salvation.' 

"Father  Joseph's  death  weakened  my  affection  for 
the  Catholic  church.  I  began  to  feel  our  own  good 
works  are  not  sufficient  to  purchase  Heaven,  though 
we  are  devoted  to  her  interest  and  the  strict  observance 
of  all  her  precepts  and  doctrines.  If  the  memory  of  our 
charities,  our  penance,  the  mortifications  of  our  spirit, 
the  maceration  of  our  limbs ;  our  numerous  prayers, 
though  unmeaning,  as  they  were,  if  repeated  in  an  un 
known  tongue,  could  not  console  us  upon  a  dying  bed, 
what  were  we  to  do  ?  There  was  but  one  way,  to  accept 
the  free-will  offering,  the  sacrifice  of  the  Saviour's 
blood,  to  cleanse  from  sin ;  our  good  works,  our  moral 
lives  are  but  a  duty  we  owe  to  our  Heavenly  Father. 

"  JESUS  is  the  good  shepherd  :  he  careth  for  the  sheep. 
He  who  tries  to  enter  the  fold,  except  through  the  door 
of  the  sheep-fold,  is  a  thief  and  a  robber." 

"  My  mind  was  made  up.  Yes  ;  we  have  reason  and 
revelation  to  guide  us,  —  the  soul  of  origin  divine.  Shall 
we  not  obey  the  teachings  of  our  heavenly  father,  and 
adore  the  glorious  majesty,  the  infinite  wisdom  of  the 
Groat  Spirit?" 


ALTHA.  225 

"I  learn,"  remarked  'Squire  Eldridge,  "the  heart 
must  be  willing  and  the  feet  ready,  in  the  service  of  the 
Catholic  church." 

"  Even  so,"  said  the  monk  ;  "  yet  it  is  not  for  me  to 
disclose  her  secrets.  If  she  retain  one  sentiment  pure 
and  beautiful,  that  one  I  shall  love.  My  sufferings,  my 
doubts  and  fears  respecting  her  infalibility  and  require 
ments,  may  go  with  me  to  the  grave. 

"  The  poet  says 

•  Man's  inhumanity  to  man 
Makes  countless  thousands  mourn.' 

Our  duties  teach  us  to  sustain  each  other.  Watch  and 
pray.  What  is  the  soul  without  religion,  without  some 
knowledge  of  itself?  Obey  the  injunction  —  Go  up  to 
the  temple  to  pray,  whether  that  temple  be  the  leafy 
grove,  the  marble  dome,  the  mountain  crag,  or  the  fire 
side  altar,  the  Great  Spirit  hears." 

Father  Anselmo  was  silent,  leaning  his  head  upon 
his  -hand,  while  we  sat  almost  breathless  with  the  inter 
est  and  excitement  with  which  we  had  listened  to  him. 
After  a  short  pause,  he  added,  "  I  LOVE  MY  COUNTRY.  I 
mourn  the  injustice  of  Deacon  Breck  which  has  driven 
me  an  alien  from  her  borders  and  the  enjoyment  of  my 


226  ALTHA. 

native  home.  I  love  my  country  !  May  she  roll  on  in 
her  glorious  career  of  freedom,  and  learning,  and  her 
institutions  progress  until  superstition,  darkness  and  in 
iquity  are  remembered  only  in  the  pages  of  history. 
In  that  day  Jew  and  Gentile  shall  be  gathered  in,  and 
dwell  in  UNITY,-  FAITH  and  LOVE." 

Father  Anselmo's  closing  words  had  somewhat  calmed 
the  intense'  excitement  from  which  Mrs.  Marvin  had 

been  suffering.     Like  a  marble  statue,  she  had  remained 

• 
with  fingers  clasped  and  lips  compressed.     I  thought  to 

speak  to  her,  to  arouse  her  fixed  attention ;  she  only 
advanced  a  step  nearer  the  monk,  enquiring  in  thrill 
ing  tones,  "Who  are  you  ?  " 

Calmly  confronting  her,  he  threw  off  his  robe  of  pur 
ple  velvet,  appearing  in  a  citizen's  dress  of  fine  black 
cloth,  laying  aside  his  cap  and  wig,  disclosed  a  fine  head 
covered  with  brown  hair  slightly  sprinkled  with  silver, 
and  a  frank,  noble  countenance,  though  traced  with  care 
and  weather-beaten.  "  Altha  !  Altha  ! "  he  exclaimed, 
advancing  forward.  She  raised  her  arms  to  save  herself 
from  falling,  murmering  in  a  suppressed  voice,  "ED 
WIN,  MY  BROTHER  !  can  this  be  true  ?  " 

One  wild  sob.  and  she  fainted,  as  he  folded  her  to  his 


ALTHA.  227 

bosom,  fondly  caressing  the  wavy  hair  and  white  for- 
head,  as  though  soothing  a  weary  child  to  sleep. 

"  No  wonder,  you  did  not  know  me ;  I  saw  you  leave 
the  hoat  upon  its  arrival  in  San  Francisco.  You  re 
sembled  my  pet  sister.  I  knew  not  what  adverse  fortune 
had  called  you  so  far  from  home.  I  watched  you ;  you 
are  here  ;  I  have  enough  ;  though  I  spend  for  others,  I 
have  a  treasure  for  you., — The  dove  has  found  shelter; 
the  wanderer  bird  found  rest." 


CHAPTER    XXVI, 

"  Be  just  and  fear  not  ; 

Let  all  the  ends  thou  aimest  at  be  thy  country's, 
Thy  God's,  and  truth's.     Then  if  thou  fullest 
Thou  fallest  a  blessed  martyr." 

"  AH  !  Don  Venicia,  well  met,"  said  'Squire  Eldridge. 
"  Well  met,"  rejoined  Venicia,  bowing  in  return,  "  I 
fancied  I  heard  thee  saying  : 

"  The  age  of  virtuous  politiss  is  past, 
And  we  are  deep  in  that  of  cold  pretence  ; 
Patriots  are  grown  too  shrewd  to  be  sincere, 
And  we  too  wise  to  trust  them," 

'•  Not  so  Venicia,  I-  eschew  politics ;  I  have  no  faith 
in  secret  societies." 

"  Go  with  me,"  said  the  Don,  drawing  Eldridge's  arm 
within  his  own  and  moving  forward  down  the  walk. 

"  The  crescent  moon  has  silvered  the  sleeping  lake. 
The  stars,  one  by  one,  have  hung  out  their  diamond 
lights;  the  winds  are  hushed.  Only  the  wierd  spirit 
whispers  in  the  falling  leaves.  We  near  the  old  grey 


ALT  II  A.  229 

rock,  and  the  long  arms  of  the  darkling  pine  tap,  tap, 
tap,  like  the  woodpecker's  call  upon  the  hollow  heach 
tree.  "  Stand."  Yet  no  form  appeared  embodying  that 
grurn  voice.  "Proceed."  We  advanced  slowly.  Ah, 
there  are  the  hemlock  houghs  beside  the  old  grey  rock 
that  shades  the  eddying  spring.  Eyes  were  shining  mid 
the  darkness ;  forked  tongues  of  fire  leaped  up  among 
the  sombre  foliage  ;  birds  of  living  coal,  with  wings  of 
flame  shot  through  the  murky  air  and  lodged  in  the 
branches  ;  strange  voices  whispered  in  our  ears  ;  a 
solemn  chant  mingling,  with  the  whispering  zephyrs, 
touched  our  hearts,  unnerved  our  arms.  The  glittering 
blade  was  sheathed ;  welcome  mysterious  shades ;  hast 
thou  aught  to  teach  us  ?  our  souls  are  free  to  learn  thy 
mysteries. 

The  darkness  lifted.  Light  effulgent  beamed  from 
leaf  and  spray,  lit  as  by  a  myriad  glow-worm.  We 
stood  within  an  enclosure  deep  of  stalwart  forms,  with 
whitened  locks,  erect,  with  folded  arms.  The  signal  for 
attention  sounded 

"  Woe,  woe  to  all  who  grind 
Their  brothers  of  a  common  Father  down, 

To  all  who  plunder  from  the  immortal  mind , 
Its  bright  and  glorious  crown." 

20 


230  ALT  II  A. 

A  chief,  clad  in  a  robe  of  ermine,  radiant  with  jewels, 
welcomed  me.  Slowly  he  spoke  :  "  My  son,  life  is  full 
of  mystery ;  our  race  is  short ;  Time  lends  us  to  do  the 
will  of  heaven  ;  the  good  spirit  whispers,  we  must  live 
and  labor  for  one  another ;  tyranny  and  oppression  must 
cease,  knowledge  he  diffused,  and  FREEBORN  RIGHTS 
must  govern  FREEDOM'S  SOIL  ! " 

The  voice  of  prayer  ascended  like  incense,  through 
the  thick  branches  of  the  whispering  pine  and  waving 
hemlock.  "  Amen,"  echoed  a  thousand  voices. 

"  Wilt  thou  join  us  ?  " 

I  bowed :  then  from  the  crystal  basin,  he  sprinkled 
me  with  cool  water  drops,  and  laved  my  hands  in  the 
cooling  liquid,  saying :  "  Place  thy  hand  upon  this  living 
Eevelation  of  the  Great  Spirit  which  has  descended  to 
us,  through  rapine,  fire  and  blood,  from  generation  to 
generation,  and  it  STILL  LIVES.  The  star  that  has 
arisen  in  the  East  still  shines,  leading  us  onward  to 
glory  and  duty.  Kneel,  while  we  enroll  thy  name 
among  the  list  of  freemen  ;  brother,  we  administer  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  Now  thou  art  enlisted  beneath  thy 
country's  banner,  to  shield  the  religion  of  Jesus,  con 
tained  in  this  blessed  volume,  and  labor  for  the  sons  of 


ALTHA.  231 

freedom,  and  thy  country's  good  and  glory,  that  she 
may  be  called  great  among  many  nations !  Arise, 
brother,  and  remember  freedom's  soil,  whereon  thou 
standest,  is  hallowed  ground,  therefore,  go  forth  ;  labor 
fervently,  silently;  then  watch  and  wait  May  the  Great 
Spirit  keep  thy  soul  stainless  of  evil." 

Another,  bearing  the  ensignia  of  rank,  clad  in  richest 
robes  of  sable  approached,  bringing  a  welcome  and  a 
charge. 

"Brother,  far  away  upon  our  journey  toward  the 
setting  sun  we  meet  again.  Until  then,  as  now,  hearts 
will  bleed  and  suffer  ;  many  souls  will  have  been  immo 
lated  upon  the  shrine  of  right  ere  truth  prevail ;  many 
will  cry  peace,  peace,  when  there  is  no  peace  ;  many 
shall  bite  the  dust,  not  by  the  rack,  and  the  brain-mad 
dening  torture,  and  the  headsman's  gilt  toy,  but  the 
truth  shall  conquer.  Go  !  be  watchful. " 

Another,  clad  in  russet  brown,  having  scrip  and  staff 
chanted — ' 

"  How  blessed  are  the  feet  of  those  who  bring  glad 
tidings  of  gospel  peace,  the  power  of  true  religion  upon 
the  soul ;  its  efficacy  in  shielding  from  sin,  a  talisman 
iu  the  hour  of  temptation,  a  firm  support  in  the  time 


232  ALT  II  A. 

of  need,  —  sufficient  arguments  for  wishing  it  trans 
lated  into  every  language  spoken  on  the  habitable  globe. 
Go !  be  steadfast." 

Another,  clad  in  the  coarse  garments  of  a  laborer, 
pressed  my  hand,  saying  — 

"  Brother,  't  is  here  we  have  to  do  in  this  every-day 
work-day  world  of  ours.  Happy  that  one  who  has 
lived  for  some  good,  be  it  ever  so  lowly.  Wish  not  for 
the  gift  of  genius,  —  a  pen  of  fire,  a  golden  easel  reflect 
ing  every  shade,  every  passion  of  human  life.  Only 
wish  to  be  wise  and  happy,  and  win  many  hearts  to  our 
good  cause,  by  thine  earnest  love  and  truth." 

Still  came  another  counsel,  from  one  clad  in  purple 
and  gold.  Said  he  — 

"  Ask  not  for  fame  ;  it  cannot  give  thee  lasting  joy. 
Ambition  is  but  a  mockery ;  a  phosphorescent  light  to 
lead  to  the  miry  pit  of  remorse,  and  the  '  dismal  swamp ' 
of  hideous  torments.  Let  thine  be  a  purer,  holier  life, 
—  to  live  in  the  hearts  of  men,  and  learn  of  these  same 
wayward  incumbrances  all  the  mysteries  of  life.  Re 
joice  not  to  be  '  among  the  crowd  and  not  of  them.' 
What  pleasure  to  soar  so  high,  as  not  to  joy  with  those 
who  joy,  and  weep  with  those  who  weep?  Be  faithful." 


ALTHA.  233 

Still  another,  of  youthful  face  and  form,  whispered  — 
"Our  faith  is  large  —  our  hope  is  strong.  There  is 
a  good  time  coming.  Therefore,  like  as  the  angels 
come  to  our  hearts,  and  come  to  bless,  let  us  cheer  and 
love  one  another.  Still  they  conic,  and  still  I  listened 
to  the  words  of  those  who  sought  to  lead.  Still  they 
chanted  "  Remember  the  order."  Said  a  sonorous  voice, 
"  How  many  of  our  contemporaries  sit  upon  the  pinnacle 
of  Fame's  temple,  with  a  sea  of  white  excited  faces  up 
turned  towards  them?  And  there  they  sit  dreary  and 
cold,  shivering  with  the  scanty  meed  of  praise.  At  last 
they  come  down  to  die.  And  where  are  they  ?  only  echo 
answers,  where  are  they?  Be  thine  the  boon  to  live 
in  true  hearts,  in  quiet  homes,  near  humble  firesides, 
in  peopled  towns,  in  lonely  hamlets,  in  noble  halls  and 
quiet  forest  glens,  upon  the  busy  foam,  and  beyond  the 
rolling  tide ;  yes,  even  where  wealth  and  pleasure  meet, 
also  where  the  poor,  the  weary  and  the  heartsick  are 
gathered;  be  thou  there  with  thy  gentle  lessons  'and 
cheering  promise." 

"  What  I  say  unto  one,  I  say  unto  all,"  said  the  pa 
triarch  of  the  order,  with  tremulous  tones,  rising  up  from 
the  mound  of  earth  upon  which  he  had  been  seated. 

"  Brothers,  we  must  labor ;    we   are  called   to  labor ; 

20* 


234  ALTHA. 

therefore,  come  to  the  work  willingly,  counting  labor  no 
such  great  misfortune,  but  rather  a  blessing ;  neither 
count  it  misfortune  to  be  poor.  The  soul  filled  with  the 
holy  principles  of  life,  honor,  faith,  love  and  charity,  is 
rich,  far  above  price.  Misfortunes  and  temptations  may 
come,  and  weigh  us  down  for  a  season,  yet  keep  the  heart 
pure  and  unstained  from  evil.  Have  faith !  The  angel 
Faith,  with  bright  moving  wings,  can  cheer,  lifting  the 
dark  clouds  higher  and  higher,  and  afar  off,  at  last, 
disclosing  the  heavenly  world  which  lies  beyond  our  own  ; 
where  the  noble  and  tried  spirit  will  find  rest  and  peace, 
and  the  full  fruition  of  more  than  earthly  riches  and 
glory.  Therefore,  labor,  and  faint  not !  labor,  and  weary 
not  with  well-doing,  for  great  is  your  reward. 
4  Labor,  omnia,  vincent ! ' 

"  Though  slowly  at  first  appears  the  good  for  .which  you 
labor,  and  softly,  silently,  steal  along  the  breathing  in 
fluence,  fear  not !  it  shall  not  die.  It  shall  on  onward  ! 
broader,  and  higher,  and  holier.  When  your  share  of 
the  great  work  is  finished,  you  shall  lie  down  to  rest ; 
the  spirit  going  home  to  God,  hearing  the  welcome, 
'  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant !  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  things,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over 


ALTHA.  235 

many,  and   with    one  voice  all   responded    solemnly, 
'Amen.'" 

"  Brother,"  said  the  ermine  chief,  again  approaching, 
and  laying  his  hand  upon  my  brow,  "thou  knowest 
what  has  been  spoken ;  what  sayest  thou?  " 

I  answered,  "  Oh,  wise  and  powerful  chief,  I  know 
nothing" 

Then  was  heard,  in  thunder-tones,  "  Friends,  brothers, 
countrymen,  disperse ! " 

The  stealthy  tread  was  hushed ;  only  the  gloomy  pine 
whispered  through  the  lengthened  shadows,  as  Don  Juan 
drew  my  arm  within  his  own,  and  we  turned  our  steps 
homewards. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

"  Weep  not  that  the  world  changes  ;   did  it  keep 
A  stable,  changeless  course,  't  were  cause  to  weep." 

THE  next  morning,  after  coffee  had  been  served,  and 
all  preparations  for  my  journey  were  finished,  we  assem 
bled  in  the  little  chapel,  and  united  in  prayer,  for  the 
blessing  of  the  GREAT  SPIRIT  to  attend  each  one  of  us 
during  all  our  journey  of  life  and  of  future  labors,  also 
for  our  country,  and  her  blessed  institutions,  —  for  her 
rulers,  and  all  conditions  of  people.  Then,  with  lighter 
hearts  and  cheerful  countenances,  these  valued  friends 
mounted,  and  accompanied  me  some  distance  upon  my 
way.  Halting  at  the  base  of  a  frightful  acclivity,  Sen- 
orita  Isabella  reined  up  her  horse  close  beside  me, 
and,  gracefully  and  affectionately,  spoke  the  fare 
well.  Mrs.  Marvin  followed  her  example,  adding, 
"  Brother  we  meet  again."  Don  Juan,  placing  his  hand 
upon  my  horse's  mane,  addressed  me  in  the  mystic 
language  of  his  order,  into  which,  the  night  previous,  he 


ALTHA.  237 

had  initiated  me.  Father  Anselmo,  approaching  me 
last,  pronounced  a  fervent  "  God  bless  you."  The 
escort  respectfully  touched  their  hats,  filling  my  mind 
with  an  impression  of  deep  regret  that  I  must  leave 
them. 

Upon  reaching  San  Francisco,  I  found  my  business 
in  better  trim  than  I  had  anticipated.  I  looked  with 
surprise  and  astonishment  over  the  city.  Making  my 

comments  to  Judge  S ,  while  standing  at  his  office 

window,  concerning  the  endless  variety  of  changes  and 
improvements  which  had  been  going  on  since  I  left. 

"  Ah,  my  boy,"  he  exclaimed,  "  have  you,  Eip  Van 
Winkle-like,  been  napping  for  the  last  six  weeks,  that 
you  have  forgotten  that  this  is  a  fast  country,  and  a 

FAST  PEOPLE  ?  " 

Halvor  and  I,  had  quite  enough,  going  out,  of  that 
"fast  clipper  sailing  around  the  Horn,  until  days  length 
ened  into  weeks.  It  gives  one  a  most  perfect  appre 
ciation  of  his  own  inferiority,  one  moment  riding  moun 
tain  high  upon  a  foaming  wave,  the  next,  almost  to  the 
regions  below  in  the  trough  of  the  sea ;  then,  as  suddenly 
again  changing  to  a  calm  smiling  surface.  But  woe  to 
him  who  trusts  its  serenity,  lest  he  become  food  for  the 


238  ALTHA. 

fishes ;  in  another  moment  a  more  sudden  and  greater 
change,  the  lightening  flashes  until  the  heavens  seem 
wrapped  in  flame,  ten  thousand  thunders  roll  and  bellow, 
with  snow  and  sleet  enough  to  blind  you;  while  the 
winds  are  screaming,  screeching,  raging  mad  in  the  fierce 
conflict,  to  tear  you  from  the  frozen  rigging.  If  a  man 
has  the  shadow  of  a  soul  he'll  feel  it  then. 

"  How  did  you  like  crossing  the  Isthmus  ?  " 

"  Oh,  I  fared  remarkably  well,  notwithstanding  the 
disagreeable  propensity  of  my  mule,  to  make  sudden 
stops,  sending  me  occasionally  upon  a  soft  bed  of  black 
mud ;  one  sees  a  few  specimens  of  humanity,  not  at  all 
agreeable  to  weak  nerves  and  notions  of  refinement ; 
in  common  phrase,  we  have  to  get  used  to  them." 

"  Yes ;  one  travelling  that  way  learns  to  endure  a 
thousand  things  he  would  never  dream  of  at  home." 

"  Precisely ;  hark  !  there  is  the  '  Old  South ; '  I  love  its 
echoing  clang,  reverberating  along  the  deserted  streets, 
it  gives  one  such  a  gloomy  feeling,  a  grand  loneliness. 
With  the  whole  city  so  still  and  motionless  like  a  great 
tomb,  whose  ghastly  inhabitants  have  wrapped  their 
mantles  around  them  and  lain  down  to  enjoy  pleasant 
dreams." 


ALTHA.  239 

"Twelve  o'clock!  Good  bye  Halvor.  Come  to  my 
office  early  to-morrow  morning." 

Well,  thought  Halvor,  as  he  drew  himself  up  and 
glanced  around  the  well-filled  table,  covered  with  a 
goodly  array  of  edibles,  mine  host  of  the  bountiful  had 
furnished,  these  Yankees  do  improve  a  little,  yes,  a 
very  little,  in  the  fashion  of  swallowing  their  coffee 
boiling  hot,  followed  by  chicken  and  toast,  without  dis 
secting  the  one  or  masticating  the  other.  He  strolled 
into  the  reading-room,  examined  the  morning  papers, 
then  passed  out  to  remark  the  weather.  A  dull  day  ia 
it,  and  not  a  speck  of  blue  sky  discernable,  by  looking 
straight  up  between  the  buildings  of  the  narrow  street. 

"  Going  to  get  some  rain,  stranger,"  said  a  man  with 
a  fresh  countenance,  puffing  away  at  a  cigar. 

"  It  looks  somewhat  like  it,  sir,"  responded  our  hero. 

"  Eh,  very  like,"  chimed  in  a  raw-boned  chap,  leaning 
against  one  of  the  columns. 

Staring  first  at  the  new-comer,  then  at  the  pedestrians, 
particularly  the  ladies,  Mr.  Hazel  turned  aside  without 
deigning  any  remark,  not  from  pride,  O  no ;  his  con 
versation  would  be  lost.  Jewels  of  thought  and  K'  d 


240  A  L  T  H  A . 

thrown  away  can  never  be  recovered  to  the  impoverished 
owner.  True,  there  is  some  one  redeeming  coin  of  vir 
tue  buried  in  every  heart,  yet  it  often  requires  a  skillful 
miner  and  patient  laborer,  to  discover  and  bring  it  to 
use. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

UP,  up  those  shadowy,  gloomy  staircases,  perched 
almost  among  the  clouds.  What !  searching  for  the 
eyrie  of  some  ravenous  hird,  in  whose  capacious  beak 
you  may  chance  to  get  stowed  away,  if  you  are  not  wise. 
When  you  get  there  it  is  not  so  bad  a  place  after  all. 
It  looks  quite  light  and  comfortable.  The  carpet  has 
been  swept,  the  sofa,  tables  and  chairs  nicely  dusted  by 
the  office-boy,  and  a  nice  coal  fire  is  burning  in  the 
grate.  As  you  enter  the  curly-pated  African  stares  at 
you  with  those  great  dreamy  eyes,  then  drops  them 
upon  his  book,  as  something  like  a  smile  floats  around 
your  mouth,  at  the  idea  of  one  of  his  race  commencing 
thus  young  to  improve  the  hours,  so  soon  after  the  chores 
are  done,  in  studying  law. 

The  desk,  the  proper  repository  of  the  secrets,  being 
kept  locked,  we  can 't  examine  that  ;  but  we  may,  if 
curiosity  dictates,  peer  into  these  antique  boxes  of  trea 
sure,  stowed  away  in  niches  and  convenient  corners. 
21 


242  ALT  HA. 

Look  at  the  golden  piles,  consisting  of  a  few  old  books 
not  fit  for  the  book-case,  a  few  worn  manuscripts,  some 
bundles  of  greasy  parchments  tied  with  red  tape,  an 
old  silk  handkerchief,  and  a  pair  of  cast-off  slippers, 
side  by  side  with  a  few  choice  shells,  and  minerals,  not 
half  so  formidable  an  array  as  we  expected.  O,  here 
upon  the  table  is  a  box  of  cigars,  and  "  a  dozen  choice," 
sent  in  by  a  certain  well-to-do  client ;  — bad,  very  bad  ; 
but  our  lecture  is  forgotten  with  the  ready  welcome  and 
the  lively  chat  of  the  lightrhearted  oivner  of  these  valu 
ables. 

"  Ethan,  you  have  not  told  me  how  you  found  your 
lovely  wife." 

"  Why,  Halvor,  you  know  one  just  returned  from  El 
Dorado  is  quite  a  lion,  or  rather,  I  was,  when  I  came, 
for  they  were  not  so  common  then  as  now.  I  attracted 
as  much  attention  as  the  Koyal  Bengal  Tiger,  and  I 
found  it  quite  easy  to  make  acquaintance  with  the  repu 
tation  of  the  golden  wand  in  possession.  One  evening, 
while  attending  a  social  party  at  Colonel  Harvey's,  I 

met  Emilie  T ,  daughter  of  Judge  T ;  (you 

used  to  know  him.)  I  was  more  than  pleased  with  her 
at  first  sight,  and  we  made  rapid  strides  towards  getting 


ALTHA.  243 

acquainted.  My  mind  was  speedily  made  up,  and  it 
does  not  take  long  to  get  the  hymenial  knot  tied,  when 
one's  mind  is  made  up.  I  find  her,  as  the  song  says, 

1  All  my  fancy  painted.' 

You  must  call  round  often ;  she  took  quite  a  fancy  to 
you  the  other  day." 

"And  so,  'Squire,  I  am  to  understand  your  liason 
with  Mrs.  Marvin  was  speedily  forgotten  ? " 

"  Forgotten,  Halvor ;  I  reckon  it  will  he  about  the 
last  thing  I  forget.  I  was  interested  to  make  her  pro 
phecy  prove  true." 

"  Precisely  the  case  with  every  one  who  listens  to  the 
words  of  a  necromancer ;  they  try  to  bring  his  predic 
tions  out  right." 

"But,  Halvor,  was  it  not  singular,  her  meeting  her 
brother  after  an  absence  of  twenty  years  ?  " 

"  God's  plans  are  not  ours,  and  the  Great  Spirit  works 
by  means." 

"  I  know  it.  Altha  used  to  say  the  same  ;  Emilie 
reminds  me  of  it  now.  I  am  vexed  if  I  ever  forget  it 
for  a  moment.  No  great  wonder  either,  when  our 
heads  are  full  of  all  sorts,  we  have  to  '  take  ilie  papers.' " 


CHAPTEE    XXIX. 

"HALVOR,  I  have  just  received  a  letter  from  an  old 
chum  in  California." 

"  Eh  !  'Squire  !  what,  does  he  say  ?  " 

"TO  AN  OLD   CHUM   AND  DEAB  FEIEND. 

"  JULY  lOrn,  MURPHY'S  DIGGINS, 

CALAVERAS  COUNTY,  CAL.         4 

"ETHAN,  —  From  the  mines  I  write  you  a  few  lines.  Politics 
and  law  being  somewhat  below  par  in  the  city  during  this  hot 
•weather,  I  have  taken  a  run  to  the  mountains,  for  the  first  time. 
For  the  fun  of  it,  I  furnished  myself  with  miners'  tools,  consist 
ing  of  shoTel,  pick  and  tin  pan.  I  have  been  here  some  two  weeks 
prospecting,  that  is,  going  around  washing  out,  a  few  pans  of  dirt 
here  and  there,  to  find  a  good  place  to  dig.  I  have  dug  in  all  about 
two  BITS,  (twenty-five  cents'  worth,)  just  enough  to  say  '  I  dug  gold.' 
I  love  to  see  the  miners  work ;  some  of  them  have  faith  enough, 
from  appearances  to  dig  and  dig  for  six  months  and  more,  without 
finding  anything, — dig  down  two  or  three  hundred  feet,  under 
ground  and  all  around ;  then  they  strike  a  big  lead,  where  it 
yields  them  two  or  three  hundred,  perhaps  a  thousand  dollars  a 
day,  and  they  make  their  pile.  Then  others  dig  away  for  years 
and  do  n't  make  grub.  It 's  a  very  uncertain  business,  and  I  should 
not  like  it  at. all,  unless  I  could  strike  a  big  lead  at  first.  I  am 
in  Calaveras  county,  three  hundred  miles  north  of  San  Francisco. 
The  weather  is  rather  warm ;  the  thermometer  runs  from  one  hun 
dred  to  one  hundred  and  fifteen,  all  the  time,  in  the  shade  ;  but 
we  do  not  suffer  with  the  heat,  the  atmosphere  is  so  pure  among 
the  mountains,  —  quite  a  healthy  country.  I  have  visited  the 


ALTHA.  245 

great  mammoth  cave  in  this  county  ;  explored  it  to  the  distance  of 
half  a  mile  from  the  entrance  :  found  chambers,  halls,  and  a  lake 
of  water,  as  is  usually  found  in  caves.  But  did  you  see  the  big 
trees  in  this  county,  when  you  were  here  ?  If  not,  I  suppose  you 
have  heard  of  them.  Next  to  Niagara,  they  are  the  greatest  curi 
osity  in  North  America,  if  not  in  the  world  ;  so  it  is  said.  The  big 
tree,  or  mammoth  tree,  —  although  there  are  a  grove  of  big  ones 
—  measures  three  hundred  and  two  feet  in  length,  thirty-one  feet 
in  diameter,  and  ninety-three  feet  in  circumference,  and  is  said  by 
naturalists  to  be  three  thousand  years  old.  This  big  tree  was  cut 
down  or  rather  bored  through,  so  they  got  it  down  after  a  fashion. 
Over  the  stump  they  have  built  a  house,  which  forms  part  of  a  hotel 
kept  for  visitors.  When  there  is  company  enough,  they  get  up  co 
tillion  parties  and  dance  upon  the  stump.  It  is  large  enough  to 
form  a  quadrille  set.  Upon  the  upper  part  of  the  tree  has  been 
built  two  ten-pin  alleys,  having  plenty  of  room  all  around  them, 
and  a  house  over  them. 

It  seems  to  me  that  Nature  tried  what  she  could  do  when  she 
1  got  up '  this  grove  of  trees.  There  are  eighty-five  trees  of  the 
large  kind  in  the  grove  ;  the  smallest  is  ten  feet  in  diameter  and 
two  hundred  and  ninety-two  feet  high,  and  the  largest  is  four  hun 
dred  and  fifty  feet  high,  and  one  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  circum 
ference.  This  one  must  be  very  old ;  it  is  called  the  '  father  of  the 
flock.'  The  inside  of  one  of  the  large  trees  that  was  down,  has  been 
burnt  out,  and  thirty  persons  mounted  on  horses  can  ride  abreast 
through  it.* 

"  I  have  been  out  to-day  a  little  way,  hunting  grisly  bears, 
which  abound  in  this  region,  but  did  not  have  the  pleasure  of  get 
ting  one.  I  shall  return  to  the  city  in  a  few  days,  when  I  will 
write  you  something  more  interesting  ;  in  the  meantime,  I  hope 
to  hear  from  you,  and  all  the  news  of  home.  The  States  will 
always  be  home  to  us,  and,  as  ever,  we  consecrate  many  of  our  best 
thoughts  to  our  own  dear  New  England." 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

"  SISTER  Altha,"  said  the  quondam  priest,  leaning 
back  in  his  arm  chair,  regarding  her  as  she  sat  caress 
ing  Mataka  :  "  Tell  me,  was  your  married  life  happy  ?  " 

"  Why,  "brother,  do  you  ask  ?  How  could  I  be  quite 
happy,  and  my  husband  away  so  much  ?  " 

"  Not  that ;  I  mean,  did  your  husband  love  you  and 
labor  to  promote  your  happiness  ?  " 

Altha  smilingly  replied :  "  What  put  that  idea  in  your 
head,  brother  ?  " 

"  But,  you  do  n't  answer  my  question." 

She  resumed,  playfully,  "  You  know  I  do  n't  come  to 
confession.  If  my  husband  had  faults  let  them  rest ; 
or,  if  he  loved  less  than  I  did,  is  that  to  be  considered 
a  fault?  It  is  not  well  for  woman  to  give  her  whole 
soul  into  the  keeping  of  mortal,  lest  the  too  fond  love 
turn  again  and  pierce  her  own  heart." 

"  Come,  suppose  you  get  out  some  new  work  teaching 
how  to  love  wisely." 


ALT  HA.  247 

"  Joke  and  sinile  if  you  will,  brother  ;  I  shall  do  no 
such  thing ;  la  belle  passion  is  not  to  be  taught,  it  being 
a  spark  of  the  invisible  relation  we  hold  to  the  Great 
Spirit,  or  Deity ;  and  is  the  wonder-working  power  pro 
ducing  the  pure,  true,  and  lovely,  in  human  nature." 

"  Then,  how  can  a  soul  full  of  this  God-given  princi 
ple,  prove  a  source  of  trouble  or  suffering  to  its  pos 
sessor  ?  " 

"  Simply,  because  we  have  to  do  with  mortals  like 
ourselves,  and  set  our  affections  upon  material  things." 

"  Altha,  would  you  have  all  the  world  turn  stoics  and 
embrace  the  principles  of  selfishness  ? " 

"  No ;  I  would  only  have  them  embrace  the  religion 
of  virtue." 

"  What  do  you  understand  that  creed  to  be  ?  " 

"  The  sublime  truths  taught  by  the  early  philoso 
phers  :  first,  that  the  principles  of  virtue  are  the  laws 
of  God,  from  which  none  depart  without  suffering  for  it 
in  some  way  or  other,  and  the  doing  good  to  others,  or 
an  emanation  of  the  Divine  Spirit  which  comes  with 
out  teaching  and  should  be  cherished.  Happiness  is  the 
state  of  pleasureableness  which  must  be  the  result  of 
well  doing.  Therefore,  a  first  love  of  God,  or  virtue,  if 


248  ALTHA. 

you  will,  coming  between  ourselves  and  the  object  of  our 
affections,  will  help  to  guard  us  against  temptation,  and 
cheer  us  under  disappointment." 

"You  advocate  marriage,  of  course?" 

"  Where  practicable,  I  do,  as  it  is  a  ceremony  and 
a  state  honored  and  blessed  by  God,  in  which  the  great 
est  amount  of  happiness  is  attainable." 

"  But,  supposing  two  persons  united  by  the  marriage 
ceremony,  find  themselves  entirely  unlike  each  ether, 
and  they  can 't  be  happy,  what  then  ?  " 

"  Brother,  have  done  with  your  catechising.  Can 't, 
can  't !  I  wonder  who  hunted  out  that  pusillanimous 
word  ?  " 

"  Why  have  you  taken  such  a  dislike  to  it,  Altha  ?  " 

"  Perhaps,  because  it  reminds  me  of  something  ridicu 
lous,"  said  she,  smiling.  "  But  I  suppose  I  must  tell 
you,  if  it  does  not  do  me  any  credit.  When  almost  a 
child,  that  is,  soon  after  you  left  home,  I  found,  as  I 
imagined,  a  friend,  one  who  was  always  talking  of  his 
disinterested  regard  for  us,  often  telling  me  to  come  to 
him  if  I  needed  advise  or  assistance,  in  short,  he  would 
be  my  brother.  I  had  something  of  an  idea  of  consti 
tuting  him  my  guardian  angel;  one  day  I  asked  of 


ALT  HA. 

him  a  trifling  favor  for  a  friend,  which  was  a  good 
word  from  him,  and  any  gentlemen  or  common  acquaint 
ance  would  not  have  hesitated  long  enough  for  me  to 
have  finished  the  request ;  hut  he  said  coldly,  '  I  can 't 
do  it.'  I  sprang  up,  confronting  him  with  scorn,  ac 
companied  hy  a  few  hitter  words,  Heaven  save  me  from 
dealing  out  to  any  other.  Here  was  a  man,  portly  and 
lord-like,  who  could  crush  my  petit  form  between  his 
thunih  and  fore-finger,  saying  :  '  I  can 't.'  It  rung  in 
my  ears  for  days." 

"  A  pretty  guardian  angel,  forsooth.  How  did  he 
take  it  ?  " 

'•  "Why,  he  looked  perfectly  stupefied  with  astonish 
ment,  as  I  turned  and  walked  away.  And  I  never 
troubled  my  head  concerning  his  friendship  afterward. 
However,  it  did  some  good,  as  I  did  not  know  I  had 
any  temper  before,  and  I  immediately  commenced  the 
study,  of  self." 

Said  her  brother,  "  I  never  thought  I  should  like  a 
woman  with  too  much  spirit,  but  a  little  is  very  desirable 
sometimes." 

But  to  return  to  our  story : — 

"  Do  you  believe  your  husband  loved  you  ?  " 


250  ALT  HA. 

«  Yes ;  I  think  he  did." 

"  Now  I  would  like  to  know  what  reason  you  had  for 
thinking  so  ?  " 

O,  pray  do  n't  expect  me  to  answer  all  the  freaks  and 
ungovernable  whims,  contained  even  in  one  specimen  of 
the  genus  homo." 

"  Altha,  I  remember  our  friend  Ethan  used  to  doubt 
the  possibility  of  one  person  loving  another  to  any 
extent,  unless  they  were  loved  in  return,  more  particu 
larly  where  there  was  little  of  attention,  kindness,  and 
mutual  sympathy  to  foster  it." 

"  Wait  until  he  has  been  in  love." 

"  If  I  mistake  not,  he  has  taken  a  few  lessons  al 
ready." 

"  What,  must  I  endeavor  to  prove  to  you,  there  is  as 
wide  a  difference  between  love  and  fancy  as  between 
Heaven  and  terra  firma." 

"  Precisely,  provided  your  arguments  are  sent  like 
sky-rockets  without  end  or  aim." 

"  I  choose  to  remain  about  as  wise  as  the  old  lady  I 
once  heard  trying  to  teacli  a  young  girl  wisdom  ;  after 
having  exhausted  all  her  stock  of  argument  and  in 
vectives,  she  exclaimed,  with  a  look  of  irritation,  '  Well, 


ALTHA.  251 

I  never ;  when  one  loves,  they  love  without  a  shadow  of 
reason  for  doing  so,  and  they  will  love  all  the  same  if 
misfortune  and  death  oppose  it.  I  can't  comprehend 
it,'  said  she,  her  feelings  softening  a  little ;  '  yet  I  have 
seen  some  of  the  disappointed  ones  become  stars,  too 
pure  and  bright  for  earth,  while  others  go  down  with 
tlum  'whose  steps  lead  down  to  death.'" 

"  But,  Altha  dear,  I  know  Marvin  loved  you." 
"  How  do  you  know  it  ?"  said  she,  rising  up  with  a 
look  of  interest. 

"  There  it  is,  we  affirm  a  thing  ourselves  and  in  the 
next  breath  eagerly  question  another's  knowledge.  He 
told  me  so,  asking  me  to  wateh  over  and  protect  you 
and  Mataka ;  indeed  he  prayed  me  to  do  so ;  oh !  how 
earnestly ;  yet,  he  never  knew  there  was  a  tie  of  kindred 
between  us.  He  told  me  no  one  could  have  had  half  so 
much  power  and  influence  over  him  as  yourself,  and  he 
could  have  made  you  so  happy,  but  for  his  indomitable 
pride  constantly  rebelling  against  his  better  nature. 
You  had  so  little  art,  and  no  skill  in  dissembling,  ac 
cordingly,  he  discovered  all,  too  soon  for  your  happiness, 
and  before  you  were  aware  of  it ;  your  regard  for  him, 
and  when  you  were  all  his  own,  how  he  liked  to  tease 
you,  in  order  to  probe  the  depth  of  your  affection.  If 


252  ALTHA. 

you  had  been  indifferent,  or  raved  occasionally,  it  might 
have  done  some  good ;  hut  you  invariably  met  his  de 
linquencies  with  that  earnest,  pleading,  suffering  look ; 
it  would  have  unmanned  him,  unless  he  sheltered  him 
self  behind  the  wall  of  hateful  pride.  He  did  not  dare 
to  be  loving  or  agreeable,  for  the  same  reason,  for  your 
caresses  and  happiness  would  take  the  temper  all  out 
of  him,  and  he  was  afraid  of  getting  into  leading- 
strings.  He  would  not  be  persuaded,  up  to  the  moment 
of  his  leaving  home,  that  you  would  be  left  behind, 
although,  notwithstanding  the  influence  of  your  friends, 
he  needed  to  use  commands,  threats,  almost  violence, 
compelling  you  to  remain  ;  yet,  not  until  he  was  fairly 
upon  the  water,  every  moment  losing  sight  of  land, 
would  he  be  persuaded  that  you  would  not  come,  —  and 
then,  he  was  unreasonable  enough  to  think  that  you  did 
not  love  him." 

"  Poor,  poor  Walter,"  said  Altha,  with  a  look  of  an 
guish,  "  he  never  knew  what  he  threw  away.  But  pray 
do  not  make  him  out  so  bad." 

"  I  cannot  believe  it,"  continued  her  brother.  "  He 
had  no  courage  or  inclination  to  earn  anything  at  first ; 
if  he  did,  he  7d  spend  it ;  at  last,  he  thought  he  'd  make 


ALT  HA.  253 

the  effort,  that  he  might  come  home.  He  bought  a 
piece  of  land  to  get  worked,  hut  his  health  failed  too 
soon  to  accomplish  much.  When  you  come  out  to  him 
so  nobly,  he  would  not  suffer  you  to  know  how  much  he 
valued  your  love  and  presence ;  he  said  it  vexed  him 
to  see  how  easily  you  gave  up  your  own  pleasures  and 
comfort  for  him.  I  promised  everything  he  wished  me  to 
do  for  you.  The  land  is  being  worked  as  he  suggested ; 
it  pays  well  already,  and  the  prospect  is,  that  you  and 
Mataka  will  have  a  splendid  fortune  in  your  own  right. 
He  suffered,  only  his  God  knew  how  much,  with  that 
fearful  pride,  which  prevented  him  from  folding  you 
to  his  bosom,  and  sharing  with  you  every  joy  and 
sorrow." 

Mataka  had  slipped  away  soon  after  the  conversa 
tion  commenced,  in  search  of  Juba,  and  Mrs.  Marvin  sat 
weeping  violently. 

"  I  knew  it  would  open  the  wound  afresh,  and  make 
your  heart  bleed,  but  he  wished  you  to  know  it,  that 
you  might  be  happier." 

"  Oh !  this  is  too  much.  It  almost  makes  us  call 
upon  the  grave  to  give  back  its  dead.  Why  could  he 
22 


254  ALTHA. 

not  have  let  me  known  it,  ,then  I  might  have  done  so 
much  more  for  him." 

"  Do  not  grieve  or  criminate  yourself;  you  did  more 
than  your  duty." 

"  I  am  not  quite  sure  of  that ;  't  is  difficult  to  decide 
where  duty  ends  in  such  cases." 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

"  THE  news !  the  news !  who'll  buy  the  news  V  "  sa 
luted  our  ears  from  one  of  the  million  news-boys  jostling 
each  other  in  the  great  emporium  of  fashion  and  famine, 
while  standing  upon  the  steps  of  the  Irving  House,  watch 
ing  the  busy  tide  of  strife  —  the  ebb  and  flow  of  human 
beings  along  the  crowded  mart  in  Broadway  and  Fulton 
streets. 

"Arrival  of  the  Great  Western  from  California, — 
distinguished  passengers.  Who'll  buy,"  continued  the 
youngster,  edging  his  way  first  upon  one  side  then  the 
other,  the  better  to  protect  his  bundle  of  merchandize, 
"  The  Journal  of  Commerce ;  will  you  take,  Mister  ?  " 
thrusting  it  toward  Ethan,  eying  him  at  the  same  time 
from  beneath  his  dusty  head  covering,  then  turning  to 
Halvor  Avho  selected  a  couple  of  different  ones,  much  to 
the  youngster's  satisfaction,  and  handing  him  the  bits, 
our  two  friends  turned  and  entered  the  reading  saloon. 
Halvor  turned  to  the  list  of  passengers ;  his  forehead 


256  ALTHA. 

paled,  then  flushed,  his  eyes  lighted  up,  and  a  faint  smile 
might  be  seen  hovering  over  those  full  lips.  He  hand 
ed  the  paper  to  'Squire  Eldridge  who  perused  the  list 
with  no  small  interest.  "  Possible,"  said  he,  discovering 
the  names  which  had  startled  his  friend  Hazel,  "  quite 
an  unlooked  for  arrival,  and  I  '11  do  myself  the  honor  to 
welcome  them." 

"  Madam  Marvin,  family  and  servants ;  quite  unosten 
tatious,  truly,"  said  Mr.  Hazel  rising,  "  the  steamer  has 
been  telegraphed  in,  it  is  just  time  for  her  to  be  at  the 
wharf." 

Proudly,  gracefully,  the  ocean-chariot  bore  down, 
ploughing  the  dark  water,  and  dashing  the  white-flecked 
foam  far  upon  every  side.  How  many  hearts  bounded 
and  wildly  throbbed  to  welcome  her  precious  freight ! 
How  many  longing  hearts  were  joyously  returning  to 
the  simple  pleasures  and  endearments  of  home  !  and 
again  returning  to  bless  the  hallowed  ground,  a  free 
man's  boast,  and  bend,  with  moistened  lids,  above  the 
green  turf  or  the  marble  urn,  where  repose  the  loved 
ones,  who,  weary  with  watching,  have  been  soothed  by 
death's  angel  to  sleep. 

0,  those  tedious  delays,  of  custom  officials,  baggage 
and  porters,  ere  we  are  allowed  to  depart  and  enjoy  the 


ALTHA.  257 

smiles  of  welcome,  a  little  friendly  chat,  and  a  few  brief 
reminisences  of  by-gones.  Assembled  in  the  drawing- 
room,  Mrs.  Marvin  appeared  to  us  beautiful  and  lovely 
as  ever,  while  the  brilliant  Senorita  Isabella  Venicia,  with 
her  small  talk  and  the  coquetting  language  of  her 
ceaseless  fan  prevented  any  great  display  of  sentiment, 
as  we  rehearsed,  for  the  benefit  of  each  other,  snatches 
from  the  drama  of  the  PAST. 

I  learned  from  Mrs.  Marvin  that  her  brother  had  for 
warded  letters  to  an  old  friend  of  their  fathers,  whom  he 
had  not  lost  sight  of,  owing  to  the  kindness  of  some  lib 
eral  minded  gentleman  he  had  encountered  in  his 
travels.  She  might  hear  from  this  friend  in  a  few 
hours,  until  when,  she  would  make  no  arrangements 
for  the  present,  of  domesticating  themselves  at  the 
travellers  home.  While  we  were  speaking,  a  gentle 
manly  clerk  entered,  and  with  a  graceful  inclination  of 
his  head  presented  Mrs.  Marvin  a  silver  salver,  upon 
which  lay  a  card ;  she  took  it  up,  glanced  at  it,  and 
smiled  her  thanks'  to  the  waiter,  who  readily  inter 
preted  therefrom  his  answer.  She  turned  to  look  at 
Mataka  standing  in  front  of  the  window,  with  child-like 
interest  and  prattle,  watching  the  novel  sights  and 
22° 


258  ALTHA. 

listening  to  the  confused  jargon  of  the  street  below,  Jtiba 
stood  near  half  concealed  by  the  heavy  window  drapery, 
sne  being  privileged,  taking  charge  of  the  little  girl. 
Her  woolly  hair,  pressed  down  close  as  possible  with 
slender  shell  combs,  was  ornamented  with  braids  of  dark 
brown  ribbon,  giving  her  head  quite  a  fixed-up  appear 
ance.  A  splendid  set  of  masticators  shone  between  a 
pair  of  round  ruby  lips  shadowed  by  a  sort  of  smiling 
grin ;  soft  black  eyes  were  swimming  with  an  affectionate 
intelligence,  with  the  rich  red  blood  welling  up,  and 
tinging  check  and  lip  through  the  dark  stain ;  she 
looked  quite  interesting.  She  was  dressed  in  a  light 
blue  cashmere,  trimmed  with  bright  buttons,  and  a  little 
green  silk  apron.  Not  less  attractive,  to  every  gazer, 
appeared  the  principal  part  of  our  group  who  had  to 
endure  a  sea  of  eyes  upon  all  occasions.  Mataka  was 
most  simply  dressed  in  a  frock  of  French  blue  and  white 
plaid  silk,  fastened  at  the  back  and  upon  the  shoulders 
with  unique  cameos,  armlets,  bracelets,  and  girdle 
fastened  with  the  same,  set  in  sprays  of  gold ;  these 
were  the  gift  of  father  Anselmo,  and  worn  for  his  sake. 
This  dress  and  ornaments  were  suited  to  the  style  of  the 


ALTHA.  259 

delicate  child,  whose  fair  shoulders  were  loaded  with  a 
shower  of  golden  curls. 

Senorita  Isabella,  was  reclining  among  the  velvet 
cushions  of  the  rosewood  tete-a-tcte,  inhaling  the  perfume 
of  a  choice  bouquet  of  flowers ;  she  was  arrayed  in  a  deli 
cate  rose  color  silk,  the  full  flounces  covered  with  the 
richest  Hack  lace,  the  corsage  and  sleeves  covered  with 
the  same  costly  net ;  her  hair  was  arranged,  very  much 
as  when  we  first  made  her  acquaintance,  having  the 
same  braids,  waves  and  curls  intermingled  with  gems, 
and  an  occasional  diamond  or  spray  of  pearls,  but  with 
out  that  envious  muslin  veil ;  a  satin  shoe,  with  black 
sole  and  high  heels,  something  after  the  fashion  of  our 
illustrious  grand-dames,  fitted  to  admiration  her  proud 
little  foot.  To  that  coquettish  fan  of  pearl-feathers  was 
pendant,  a  chain  fastening  a  tiny  bouquet-holder,  formed 
of  delicate  pearls  mingled  with  flowers  of  gold  and  silver. 

"  Senorita,"  said  Mr.  Hazel,  bowing  toward  her 
flowers,  "  you  will  have  to  depend  upon  the  green-house 
for  your  favorites." 

"  Senor,  I  fear  so.  Thanks  to  the  unknown  friend 
who  has  sent  me  these ;  I  shall  prize  them  more  than 
ever  now." 

"  With  us  they  are  so  plenty,  I  may  say,  I  have  walk- 


260  ALTHA. 

ed  upon  flowers,  breathed  flowers,  nearly  all  nay  life. 
I  will  hope  your  future  path  of  life  may  still  be  strewn 
with  flowers  destitute  of  thorns." 

A  thrilling  glance  of  affection  shone  from  out  those 
dark  soul-full  eyes,  so  delicately  shaded  by  the  long 
fringed  lids.  Mr.  Hazel  glanced  toward  Eldridge,  who 
was  donor  of  the  flowers  in  question,  adding 

"  Our  friend  here,  despite  his  brusque  style,  (his  own 
opinion,  however,)  will  do  agreeable  things.  They  flow 
unwittingly  from  his  generous  heart,  and  we  may  lend 
heart  and  mind,  for  the  time,  to  the  magic  of  their 
happy  influence." 

A  happy  tear  glistened  upon  the  long  lashes  as 
Isabella  playfully  raised  the  flowers  to  her  lips  in 
acknowledgement  of  the  favor.  Mrs.  Marvin  observed 
'Squire  Eldridge's  hand  tremble,  as  it  lay  upon  the 
table  beside  her,  for  he  was  possessed  of  a  rare  under 
current  of  sentiment  and  feeling. 

She  inquired,  "  Do  you  remember  the  magnolia  that 
shaded  the  east  chapel  window,  Ethan  ?  It  was  in 
full  bloom  when  we  left ;  a  perfect,  magnificent  snow- 
wreath." 

"  Mamma,"  chimed  in  Mataka.  "  How  I  wish  we 
could  have  it  here." 


ALTHA.  261 

"  We  cannot  liave  all  we  wish,  my  child,  yet  no  doubt 
we  will  have  many  pleasures  here  we  did  not  have  at 
home.  We  must  learn,  my  dear,  to  prize  what  we  have 
in  every  situation.  I  do  not  wish  you  to  forget  old 
friends,  not  even  the  flowers,"  and  she  brushed  back  the 
long  curls  and  kissed  the  white  forehead  of  her  darling. 

At  this  moment  my  attention  was  attracted  towards 
Mrs.  Marvin's  costume,  which  was  very  rare  for  me,  con 
sidering  she  never  appeared  to  give  the  subject  a 
thought.  Dressing,  for  the  gratification  of  her  friends, 
I  think  she  might  have  studied  to  be  well  dressed,  and 
forgotten  it  the  moment  her  toilet  was  completed.  She 
was  wearing  a  dress  of  shaded  purple  and  black  moire 
antique,  the  skirts  ornamented  with  a  broad  trimming 
of  jet  and  chenneille  flowers,  interspersed  with  shining 
leaves  of  velvet  and  satin,  'kerchief,  stomacher,  and 
sleeves  of  rich  embroidery.  The  muslin  at  the  throat 
was  fastened  with  a  spray  of  amethysts,  also  bracelets 
of  jets,  amethysts  and  pearls ;  her  hair  was  orna 
mented  with  a  wreath  of  the  same,  interspersed  with  a 
few  delicate  hair-flowers  of  the  same  shade  as  her  own 
hair,  and  one  golden  wheat,  and  a  tiny  shamrock  en 
livened  the  whole,  by  peeping  from  those  "wavy  puffs. 
I  was  taking  in,  at  a  single  glance,  what  has  taken  me 


262  ALTHA. 

so  long  to  describe,  making  the  reader  almost  forget  the 
card  Mrs.  Marvin  had  received,  when  the  clerk  an 
nounced  a  fine-looking  man  evidently  "belonging  to  the 
Society  of  Friends.  His  "brown  coat  of  the  finest  cloth, 
shining  broad-brimmed  heaver,  and  powerful  frame, 
surprised  us  not  more  than  his  clear  hazel  eye,  and  open 
countenance,  full  of  goodness  and  manly  pride,  charmed 
us  at  first  sight.  As  he  approached,  Mrs.  Marvin  arose 
and  extended  her  hand,  hut  he  took,  instead  of  one, 
both  of  her's,  within  his  own,  regarding  her  with  a  look 
full  of  kindness  and  love. 

She  drooped  her  head,  to  hide  her  emotion,  for  she 
was  remarkably  susceptible  to  any  little  show  of  kind 
ness  from  others.  He  passed  one  arm  around  her  shoul 
ders,  lifting  her  head  and  looking  down  into  those 
speaking  eyes,  imprinted  a  father's  kiss  upon  her  fore 
head,  treating  her  as  he  would  have  done  a  favorite 
child,  exclaiming  "Altha!  welcome,  -welcome  home!" 
then  leading  her  forward,  Mrs.  Marvin  presented  him 
to  each  in  turn,  as  her  father's  friend. 

A  pleasant  word,  a  friendly  grip  and  smile  he  had 
for  each  ;  he  seemed  so  kindly  disposed  towards  us,  that 
we  were  immediately  acquainted,  and  enjoying  ourselves. 


ALTHA.  263 

Enquiries  followed  concerning  the  voyage,  and  Altha's 
brother  whom  he  had  known  when  a  hoy ;  then  he  spoke 
of  his  own  people. 

Said  friend  William,  as  he  was  called : 

"  I  thought  I  was  going  to  meet  a  stranger,  hut  thee 
reminds  me  so  much  of  my  friend  General  Walton,  that 
I  seem  to  have  known  thee  all  thy  life," 

Said  Altha,  "  You  rememher  when  you  visited  father, 
how  I  used  to  come  into  the  parlor,  wishing  you  would 
look  up  from  your  paper  and  talk  to  me,  and  if  you 
chanced  to  look  over  the  top  of  it,  how  quietly  I  would 
glide  away,  not  daring  to  speak  a  word." 

Altha  had  spoken  this  with  more  than  her  usual 
vivacity,  and  as  she  ceased,  her  Quaker  friend  again 
hent  upon  her  those  great  brown  eyes,  answering,  "I 
thank  thee." 

Ethan  played  with  the  tassel  of  the  curtain,  while 
Halvor  bit  his  lip,  half  vexed  that  both  had  resided  un 
der  the  same  roof  with  her,  without  discovering  what 
friend  William  had  done,  without  seeing,  the  very  touch 
stone  and  foundation  of  her  character,  which  was  a 
gentle  lovingness,  only  satisfied  with  a  powerful  in 
tellect  to  guide,  and  a  stronger  arm  than  her  own  to 
rest  upon. 


264  ALTHA. 

They  had  sought  to  win  her  by  setting  her  upon  a 
pedestal  to  worship,  from  which  position  it  would  be 
necessary  for  her  to  come  down  with  possession.  For 
them  it  might  have  been  better,  if  they,  full  of  noble 
thoughts  and  deeds,  had  loved  her  with  full  faith,  and 
expected  the  same  love  and  confidence  in  return ;  tlie 
simplest  lesson,  and  sure  of  meeting  success. 

"  How  long  does  thee  think  of  stopping  in  the  city  ?" 

"  Just  so  long  as  you  think  advisable ;  all  important 
business  concerning  myself  and  child,  my  brother  ad 
vised  me  to  refer  to  you,  for  counsel,  while  I  remained  in 
the  States.  As  for  myself,  I  have  very  few  acquaint 
ances  or  friends  in  the  city ;  probably  all  have  forgotten 
me  during  my  long  abscence,  or  at  best,  I  am  remem 
bered  only  as  a  dream  of  the  morning,  dispelled  with  the 
first  ray  of  daylight,  or  the  first  adverse  cloud  of  ab 
sence." 

"  In  like  manner  do  you  forget  your  acquaintances," 
said  Halvor,  with  some  show  of  interest. 

"  Me  forget,"  and  she  lifted  her  eyes  with  such  a  look 
of  astonishment,  encountering  his  own.  Wishing  to 
change  the  effect  upon  others  she  gaily  remarked,  "  Oh 
dear,  every  one  I  meet  looks  so  sentimental,  I  am  afraid 


ALTHA.  265 

of  losing  my  own  individuality  and  following  the  fash 
ion." 

"  Bees  gather  around  sweets,"  said  our  grave  Quaker 
friend. 

"  Oh,  fie,  fie  upon  thee,"  and  a  laugh  of  music  was 
heard  that  echoed  in  every  heart,  making  the  pulses 
thrill. 

What  wonder  it  was  the  first  time  any  one  present 
had  heard  Altha  laugh,  a  free,  happy  laugh.  She  had 
grown  sad  as  memory  peopled  the  world  of  the  past ;  and 
reflective,  as  hope  with  her  starry  wings  folded,  pointed 
only  to  a  heavenly  inheritance.  She  lived  at  that  mo 
ment  in  the  present.  Halvor  gazed  at  her  almost  with 
a  look  of  triumph,  as  he  watched  her  momentary  confu 
sion.  Instead  of  resenting  his  glance  she  passed  quick 
ly  to  his  side. 

"  Halvor,  do  not  mock  me,  my  heart  is  full,  full  of 
this  undeserved  happiness,  and  I  am  grateful,  very  grate 
ful,  my  friends,  for  all  your  past  and  present  kindness. 
I  am  indeed  oppressed  with  a  sense  of  ohligation  for 
which  you  have  only  a  share  of  my  poor  love.  The  con 
trast  of  to-day  with  that  of  my  leaving  home  years  ago, 
when  all  the  cherished  plans  of  life  had  died  out  in  the 
23 


266  ALTHA. 

soul,  leaving  it  a  wreck  of  hopes  and  fears,  partially 
reanimated  upon  a  foreign  shore  only  to  be  "buried 
with  the  loved  one  in  the  dust,  completely  overpowers 
me.  Therefore,  my  friends,  you  will,  you  must,  forgive 
all  my  eccentricities." 

Fortunately  for  me,  other  ties  bound  me,  or  I  should 
have  thrown  myself  -at  her  feet,  and  hazarded  another 
refusal,"  said  Ethan,  when  recounting  the  entertain 
ment  to  his  wife. 

However,  friend  William  was  on  hand,  to  prevent  a 
scene,  which  he  did,  by  drawing  Altha's  arm  within  his 
own,  and  leading  the  way  to  supper. 

The  next  day,  I  saw  Madam  Marvin  and  family,  es 
corted  by  our  friend  William,  en  routs  for  the  stone  cot 
tage  by  the  sea-girt  shore,  where  the  artist's  lion  reposed 
beneath  the  marble  portico,  and  the  eagle  and  the  dove 
in  arabesque,  looked  down  from  the  columned  hall ; 
escutcheons  old  and  honored,  of  the  illustrious  dead, 
frescoed  the  lofty  ceiling.  And  Altha  loves  her  sombre 
cottage  home,  near  which  the  waves  leap  up  and  dance, 
and  mocking,  kiss  the  rocky  strand,  making  merry  and 
mournful  music ;  or,  when  obedient  to  the  storm  —  God's 
wrath,  —  they  roll  mountain-high,  swelling,  roaring, 


ALTHA.  267 

lasliing  the  white  "breakers  in  their  mad  rage.  Often 
alone  sits  our  gentle  friend,  listening  to  the  teachings 
from  out  great  Nature's  heart,  filling  a  universe,  form 
ing  a  world ;  or,  on  some  pleasant  shiny  day,  our  friend 
William,  with  his  loving  wife  hanging  upon  his  arm, 
clad  in  her  rustling  silver  silk,  her  little  grey  "bonnet 
shading  those  love-lit  eyes,  may  be  seen  treading  the 
walk  so  nicely  paved  with  shells,  leading  up  to  the  door 
of  the  cottage,  where  they  meet  with  a  warm  welcome 
from  our  eccentric  Altha,  who  sits  beside  them  or  at 
their  feet,  and  learns,  with  a  pure  heart,  lessons  of 
worldly  wisdom,  the  practical  lessons  of  life. 


CHAPTEK     XXXII. 

"  Lull'd  in  the  countless  chambers  of  the  brain, 
Our  thoughts  are  link'd  by  many  a  hidden  chain ; 
Awake  but  one,  and  lo,  what  myriads  rise ! 
Each  stamps  its  image  as  the  other  flies ! " 

"  HALVOR,  this  is  our  last  night,  '  positively  the  last 
night.'  1  have  been  from  home  a  whole  week,  and 
must  return  to-morrow,  or  my  Emilie  will  he  sending  for 
me,  or  crying  me  down,  as  having  left  her  bed  and 
board,  without  just  cause.  I  must  return  to-morrow. 
Now  it  is  your  turn  to  raise  the  veil,  and  let  us  behold 
the  wonders  of  your  adventures." 

"  Ethan,  my  friend,  it  is  a  long  time  since  I  have 
rehearsed  my  adventures.  Indeed  I  have  become  quite 
miserly  in  hoarding  my  own  affairs,  believing  they  can 
possess  no  trait  of  interest ;  but  to  you,  who  watched 
over  me  through  that  long  tedious  voyage,  and  through 
whose  care  I  was  brought  back  to  life,  I  will  lay  aside 
all  fastidious  notions  and  reserve." 


ALTHA.  269 

"  Pray  don 't  mention  anything  in  the  way  of  grati 
tude,  for  the  debt  is  still  upon  my  side." 

"  Well,  Ethan,  we  will  not  quarrel  about  it ;  we  were 
saved ;  we  are  happy,  and  we  have  yet  something  to 
live  for.  Usually  the  want  of  observation  makes  us 
thoughtless  of  the  present  and  heedless  of  the  future, 
and  the  melancholy  fact  is,  that  we  so  often  increase  our 
amount  of  information,  without  practically  increasing 
our  amount  of  motive. 

"  But  to  return  to  myself :  When  I  left  you  at  San 
Francisco  I  took  the  boat,  and  followed  some  distance 
up  the  San  Puebla,  having  no  settled  purpose  in  my 
mind,  being  only  on  the  look-out  for  something  new 
and  strange.  I  soon  joined  a  party  bound  upon  an  ex 
ploring  expedition  north.  We  were  out  many  weeks, 
encountering  hair-breadth  escapes  and  privations,  too 
numerous  to  paticularize  at  this  time.  However,  at  the 
expiration  of  six  weeks,  our  whole  party,  myself  ex- 
cepted,  returned  to  San  Joachim,  completely  exhausted. 
I  resolved  to  remain  for  a  time  and  try  '  Border  Life,' 
and  joined  a  party  en  route  for  Oregon,  to  settle  there. 
But  owing  to  sickness,  fatigue,  and  scarcity  of  suitable 
provisions,  and  almost  impassable  roads,  it  being  the 
23* 


270  ALTHA. 

rainy  season,  we  were  obliged  to  encamp  for  Letter 
weather,  and  to  recruit. 

"  I  fell  in  with  the  party,  some  two  hundred  miles  from 
their  place  of  destination.  They  were  twelve  in  number, 
the  greater  part  having  gone  on  with  most  of  the  wag 
ons.  One  of  their  greatest  fears  was  from  the  Indians, 
dreading  some  hostile  tribe  might  come  upon  them.  We 
had  fuel  and  some  food  to  procure,  and  to  keep  a  vigi 
lant  watch  through  fear  of  a  lurking  foe. 

"  There  is  so  much  excitement  connected  with  border 
life,  that  I  entered  into  it  with  great  zeal.  There  was 
a  young  girl,  who  had  seen  eighteen  summers,  among 
the  company,  with  her  father,  mother,  and  brother. 
They  called  her  Stella  Iverness;  she  was  delicate 
and  beautiful  as  a  poet's  dream.  At  times  I  have 
watched  her,  persuading  myself  there  could  be  no 
ties  of  kindred  between  herself  and  family.  How  often 
a  rare  flower  is  transplanted  to  an  humble  wayside  home, 
as  a  link,  to  lead  its  companions  to  a  better  and  heavenly 
one.  So  it  seemed  with  Stella. 

"  I  stood  leaning  against  our  rude  tent,  at  the  back  of 
it,  while  the  different  members  of  our  party  were  en 
gaged  preparing  the  evening  meal,  myself  listening  to 


ALT  HA.  271 

the  whispering  of  the  leaves  of  the  surrounding  forest 
trees  and  the  indistinct  murmuring  of  a  distant  water 
fall.  Upon  looking  up,  I  saw  the  gleam  of  a  light  dress 
disappear  among  the  trees,  at  the  left.  After  a  short 
time  I  threw  my  rifle  over  my  arm  and  followed  in  the 
same  direction,  knowing  it  to  be  unsafe  for  one  to  be  out 
alone  far  from  the  tent.  I  reached  the  large  tree  beside 
which  the  dress  had  disappeared.  Beyond  was  a  huge 
grey  rock  surrounded  by  trees  and  stunted  oaks. 

"  I  peered  around  for  some  time  gently  putting  aside 
the  bushes,  and  at  last  discovered  an  open  space  encircled 
by  a  belt  of  these  tangled  shrubs,  the  space  being  cov 
ered  with  evergreens,  myrtle,  and  pale  flowers  that  grew 
in  the  shade  ;  two  or  three  stones  were  lying  there  par 
tially  covered  with  moss.  And  there  too  was  Stella, 
kneeling  in  prayer.  This  was  her  oratory,  —  Nature's 
own  temple,  '  not  made  with  hands.'  I  was  struck  with 
surprise ;  a  feeling  of  curiosity  tempted  me  to  listen, 
which  I  should  not  have  done  in  any  other  case  ;  but 
it  was  long  since  I  had  heard  or  thought  of  such  a 
thing.  She  prayed  for  her  friends,  her  country,  then  so 
earnestly  for  myself —  for  the  stranger  that  had  come 
among  them.  Her  lips  scarcely  breathed  a  sound  at 


272  ALT  II  A. 

first,  but  they  grew  eloquent,  with  her  supplications,  and 
I  heard  distinctly  every  word.  When  she  had  ceased  I 
stepped  aside  and  walked  away,  she  soon  come  up  with 
nie,  and  was  going  to  spring  past,  I  caught  her  by  the 
arm,  and  said,  '  Stella  I  want  to  talk  with  you  one  mo 
ment.'  She  tried  to  free  herself.  Half  vexed,  that  she 
had  no  more  confidence  in  me,  or  a  dislike  to  hear  my 
request,  I  remarked  again,  '  Stella,  I  have  heard  your 
prayer ;  I  want  to  know  why  you  prayed  for  me  ? '  She 
looked  up  frankly,  and  answered  : 

" '  Because  I  want  all  my  friends  to  join  me  in  the 
home  to  which  I  am  going/ 

"  "What  do  you  mean,  Stella?  I  don't  comprehend  you." 

" '  0,  I  am  going  home,  far  above  the  blue  sky,  and  I 
want  all  my  dear  friends  to  come.  You  can't  go  now.' 

"  Why,  Stella,  what  can  you  mean ;  you  are  not  going 
away,  —  you  are  not  going  to  die."  The  tears  sprang 
to  her  eyes  as  she  murmured,  — 

"  '  My  friends  must  go  to  their  new  home  without  me ; 
they  must  leave  me  here,'  and  a  few  tear  drops  fell,  in 
spite  of  her  efforts  to  restrain  them. 

"  Taking  one  little  hand  in  my  own,  I  said,  '  Stella, 
why  do  you  talk  so  ?  you  are  nervous.' 


ALTHA.  .  273 

"  Laugh  at  me  if  you  will,  chide  it  as  folly ;  yet  I  feel 
it,  —  I  know  it  —  every  day,  —  every  hour,  creeping,  chill 
and  cold  around  ray  heart.  I  did  not  want  to  be  left 
here ;  hut  I  am  willing,  if  God  wills  it.  I  know  my 
spirit  will  not  rest,  and  I  want  to  know  all  my  friends 
will  meet  me  in  Heaven.' 

"  Stella,  your  parents  must  know  about  this.  Your 
imagination,  your  over-wrought  sensibilities  are  derang 
ing  your  system,  undermining  your  health." 

" '  No,  no !  let  them  remain  in  ignorance  of  it,  they  can 
do  nothing  for  me,  more  than  they  do ;  they  have  no 
means  of  doing  anything  more.  Mr.  Hazel/  she  in 
quired  more  cheerfully,  '  did  you  ever  learn  to  pray  ?  > 

"  Yes ;  when  a  child  my  mother  taught  me.  She  is 
an  angel  now,  and  all,  all  have  forgotten  me." 

" '  No,  no,  do  not  say  that ;  God  has  not  forgotten  you.' 
And  she  sat  down  by  me  upon  the  fallen  trunk  of  a  tree 
and  talked  with  me  so  beautifully  of  'that  blight 
world  which  lies  beyond  our  own.' 

"  The  night  shadows  had  gathered  silently  around  us, 
and  the  gentle  dew  was  felt,  setting  in  its  work  of  char 
ity,  to  replenish  the  thirsty  earth.  When  we  returned 
to  the  tent,  Stella's  mother  seemed  pleased  with  my 


274  ALTHA. 

attention,  and  speedily  acted  upon  my  suggestion,  to  do 
away  the  effect  of  the  damp. 

"  Daily,  hourly,  Stella  drooped  and  faded,  and  wasted 
to  a  shadow.  Even  the  roughest  woodsman  of  our  party 
was  tranformed  into  a  gentle  nurse  when  admitted  to 
her  side. 

"  One  day,  toward  spring,  I  watched  her,  while  her 
mother  was  preparing  something  for  her  comfort.  Stella 
seemed  sinking,  sinking.  I  bent  over  her  several  times 
to  see  if  she  breathed.  Suddenly  she  started  up  and 
looked  around.  Mrs.  Iverness  was  near  her  in  a  mo 
ment.  Stella  twining  her  arms  around  her  neck,  mur 
mured, 

"  <  Good  bye,  mother ;  do  not  grieve  for  me,'  and  kiss 
ing  her,  sank  back  upon  her  pillow.  Father,  brother, 
and  the  few  friends,  who  composed  all  of  our  party, 
immediately  clustered  around,  and  shared  in  the 
farewell.  Once  more  arousing  herself,  she  held  out 
her  hand  to  me,  and  I  bent  over  her  to  hear  her  softly 
whisper, 

'  Remember  —  to  die  is  but  gain.' 

"  The  sun  of  her  young  life  had  gone  out  and  left, 
darkness  brooding  around  the  hearth-stone. 

"  I  grieved  to  leave  her  sleeping  in  that  grand  old 


ALTHA.  275 

forest,  all  alone.  It  was  some  comfort  to  linger  near 
her ;  tut  there  was  no  alternative.  We  hollowed 
out  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and  in  it  made  her  bed,  and 
buried  her  deep,  and  heaped  on  the  stones  and  earth,  to 
prevent  the  prairie  dog  from  digging  for  her  remains. 
I  lingered  near  the  grave :  the  full  moon  was  shining 
gloriously,  tracing  gloomy  and  fantastic  shadows  upon 
the  ground  ;  I  bowed  my  head  and  thoughts  in  prayer, 
to  Stella,  wishing  her,  from  her  mysterious  home  beyond 
the  skies,  to  intercede  for  me,  to  watch  over  me,  and 
make  me  worthy  to  meet  her  at  last. 

"  No  answer  of  hope  came  back  to  my  sorrowing  heart ; 
no  feeling  of  peace  filled  my  soul ;  but  a  sad  thought, 
that  she  had  forgotten  me  and  earth,  came  upon  me; 
utter  loneliness  stole  over  me  as  as  I  tried  to  comprehend 
the  vast  gulf  between  us,  and  I  threw  myself  in  de 
spair  beside  her  grave.  Instantly  a  feeling  of  reproof 
shot  through  my  mind.  I  hesitated ;  I  looked  up  ;  the 
same  solemn  stillness  reigned  as  before.  I  stood  up  ;  a 
zephyr  passed  over  my  face,  and  this  thought  seemed 
spoken  in  the  inmost  recesses  of  my  soul  — '  JESUS  IS 
TOUR  FRIEND;  HE  is  AN  ALL-SUFFICIENT  SAVIOUR!'  I 
was  conscious  that  Stella  was  above  me,  and  sorrowfully 


276  ALTHA. 

understood  what  I  had  felt  —  that  my  prayer  to  her  was 
mockery  to  God.  I  laughed  at  myself,  and  believed 
that  I  must  be  laboring  under  some  mental  hallucin 
ation. 

"But  there  it  was,  as  calmly  and  sensibly  felt  as 
though  articulated  by  the  human  voice,  and  written 
upon  everything  around.  It  was  a  sympathy  of  spirit, 
soul  answering  soul,  nothing  to  fear,  but  all  to  love. 
She  had  cast  off  her  cerements  of  clay ;  she  was  an 
incomprehensible  ray  of  celestial  light,  and  had  been 
called  home  for  some  wise  purpose,  to  work  out  the  will 
of  the  Father  —  the  Great  Spirit.  Then  I  knelt  upon 
Stella's  grave,  and  poured  forth  my  soul  in  prayer  as 
only  a  strong  mind  can  do,  when  it  feels  there  is  a 
power  superior  to  its  own  futile  reason.  I  walked  away 
calmed  with  a  light  and  holy  calm ;  and  now,  in  my 
more  peaceful  hours,  I  can  feel  that  spirit-influence 
cheering  and  guiding  me. 

"  I  left  the  tent  and  the  wayside  grave,  and  struck 
out  upon  a  new  track  Beaching  the  Pacific  shore,  I 
took  passage  in  the  first  convenient  packet,  for  the  old 
world,  with  the  Bible  for  a  companion  —  Stella's  Bible, 
her  dying  gift.  I  passed  through  lands  of  pagan  dark- 


ALTHA.  277 

ness  and  gross  superstition,  unto  the  distant  shores  of 
Palestine,  even  to  the  summit  of  the  Mount  of  Olives, 
and  the  spot  where  stood  the  Temple,  once  the  glory 
and  pride  of  Jerusalem,  now  a  heap  of  broken  ruins. 
How  could  I  fail  to  trace  in  all  the  wonder-working 
power  of  God  ?  How  could  I  doubt  the  Gospel  of  Jesus 
Christ  the  Saviour?  while  lingering  near  those  hallowed 
places,  the  mind  expands  with  benign  influence,  and 
fills  with  divine  charity. 
24 


CHAPTEE    XXXIII. 

4  4  And  they  who  before  were  strangers, 
Meeting  in  exile,  became  straightway  as  friends." 

LONGFELLOW. 

Once  more  I  stood  upon  the  shore  of  our  golden  country 
en  route  for  home.  I  longed  to  meet  my  sister  and  give  her 
a  brother's  love.  I  longed  to  meet  my  father,  as  every 
shadow  of  his  former  harshness  had  been  effaced,  feeling 
perhaps  I  had  done  better  to  have  borne  it  more  patiently, 
and  counted  myself  as  the  only  one  in  error.  I 
longed  to  traverse  the  grounds  and  halls  of  old  Har 
vard  University,  and  mark  how  many  of  former  friends 
and  associates  would  recognize  me. 

One  morning  I  started  from  the  city  of  San  Francisco, 
for  a  day's  ride  in  the  adjacent  country,  to  make  my 
self  better  acquainted  with  its  scenery  and  facilities,  and 
ruralize  a  little  among  the  fertile  hills,  bold,  jagged 
and  picturesque. 

After  two  hours'  ride,  I  suddenly  encountered  a  party 
of  two  ladies,  mounted  upon  splendid  Spanish  horses, 


ALTHA.  279 

and  six  swarthy,  fantastically  dressed  men  as  attendents. 
I  stared  at  the  party  with  no  little  interest  and  curi 
osity.  One  was  a  dark  Spanish  lady,  a  splendid  heauty  ; 
the  other  I  judged  of  Saxon  origin,  delicate,  with  a 
fair  skin,  and  very  interesting.  I  bowed  as  I  passed ; 
the  delicate  lady  returned  the  salute  without  seeming  to 
notice  my  rude  stare,  and  I  felt  I  must  have  known 
her  previous  to  that  meeting.  To  some  remark  of  her 
companion,  she  replied :  — 

"  One  of  my  countrymen,  senorita !  " 

Instanter,  I  turned  my  horse,  without  thinking  of 
etiquette  at  all,  and  rode  to  the  side  of  the  lady  who  had 
returned  my  "bow,  despite  the  savage  glances  and  ready 
gathering  of  their  retainers.  I  offered  her  my  card, 
which  she  accepted,  glanced  at  it  and  bowed,  repeating, 

"  From  Boston ;  't  is  a  long  time  since  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  meeting  one  from  that  dear  city." 

"  Was  it  your  home,  lady,"  I  asked,  bowing  in  turn. 

"  Yes,  it  was  for  a  long  time." 

"  Let  your  being  a  countrywoman  be  sufficient  excuse 
for  my  presumption,  and  allow  me  to  accompany  you  by 
your  side. 

"It  is  the  surest  passport  to  our  homes,"  said  she, 


280  ALTHA. 

"  yet  in  our  border  life,  we  learn  to  welcome  the 
stranger." 

After  two  hours'  pleasant  ride,  the  ladies  reined  in 
their  steeds,  signifying  their  intention  of  returning.  I 
felt  reluctant  to  part  with  them  so  soon,  and  begged 
permission  to  accompany  them. 

"  Most  happy,"  they  answered,  "  but  our  ranche  is 
some  distance  from  here ;  it  will  be  night  before  you  can 
return,  and  you  are  alone." 

Assuring  them  that'  I  would  brave  all  danger,  we 
galloped  homeward.  I  soon  found  I  had  not  counted 
upon  the  distance. 

Arriving  at  the  lodge,  the  lady  dispatched  a  servant 
for  her  brother.  She  cordially  invited  me  to  alight  and 
partake  of  some  refreshment,  which  invitation,  I  was 
happy  to  accept.  Upon  rising  to  go,  I  looked  in  vain  for 
my  horse,  which  I  had  left  in  care  of  the  groom. 

Said  mine  host,  in  answer  to  my  inquiry, 

"  I  sent  your  horse  around  to  the  menage.  It  is  too 
late  for  you  to  return  to  San  Francisco  to-night." 

But  I  was  determined  not  to  listen,  the  thought  enter 
ing  my  brain,  that  it  was  like  forcing  myself  upon  them. 

"  Make  no  excuses,  my  son,"  said  he,  "  I  shall  not 


ALT  HA.  281 

consent  to  have  you  go  unless  it  is  very  inconvenient  for 
you  to  remain,  and  then  I  will  send  an  escort  with  you. 

"  However,  at  length  I  was  quite  pleased  with  the  idea 
of  remaining,  although  it  had  been  the  farthest  thing 
from  my  thoughts. 

I  found  Mr.  Walton,  or  Father  Anselmo,  quite  enter 
taining  for  he  had  been  a  traveller  and  a  scholar,  prin 
cipally  educated  among  Catholics ;  hut  his  feelings  and 
views  had  changed  somewhat,  and  he  was  living  con 
tented  upon  his  own  estate,  surrounded  by  a  numerous 
clan,  all  free  and  happy,  yet  owning  him  not  only 
their  superior,  but  a  friend  as  well  as  master.  He  seem 
ed  to  live  but  for  their  interests  and  do  good  wherever 
there  was  occasion.  I  told  him  frankly  of  my  meeting 
with  the  ladies  ;  he  smiled.  He  seemed  to  comprehend 
every  tone,  every  feeling  of  the  heart.  Perhaps  his 
early  misfortunes,  education  and  subsequent  seclusion 
all  conduced  to  teach  him  that  great  important  study  of 
man.  I  lived  over  with  him  my  travels  and  present 
situation,  for  which  I  received  an  invitation  to  stop 
with  them.  I  might  say,  with  truth,  that  we  were 
well  met,  and  my  heart  warms  toward  him  even  at  this 
hour. 


282  ALTHA. 

I  returned  to  the  city  with  my  horse,  followed  "by  a 
native  leading  another,  as  Father  Aselrno  would  not  hear 
of  my  leaving  him  except  with  the  promise  of  immediate 
return. 

Hours  and  days  glided  imperceptibly  by,  numbering 
weeks  e'er  I  had  had  time  to  think.  Every  day 
making  it  more  difficult  for  me  to  leave  my  new  found 
friends.  Madam  Marvin's  society  had  become  necessary 
to  my  happiness. 

"  O,  ho ! "  said  'Squire  Eldridge,  raising  his  feet 
a  round  higher,  and  sitting  back  in  a  comfortable  corner 
of  the  sofa,  "  I  wonder  that  I  never  thought  of  that 
before,  and  you  so  suited  to  each  other." 

"  Always  the  way,"  returned  Halvor,  slightly  smiling, 
"when  we  know  a  thing  we  wonder  why  we  never 
thought  of  it  before.  I  purposed  telling  her  of  my  re 
gard.  One  evening  after  candles  had  been  brought 
in,  the  intruding  insects  brushed  away,  and  the  screens 
fastened  over  the  windows  by  the  careful  domestic,  I 
commenced  telling  her  of  my  future  plans,  and  found 
her  capable  of  appreciating  and  encouraging  me  con 
cerning  them. 

[Here  her  brother  entered,  interrupting  us,  when  a 


ALT  HA.  283 

long  conversation  followed,  concerning  free  institutions, 
and  the  best  method  for  advancing  civilization  and 
Christianity.] 

"  As  I  sit  here,"  said  he,  "  in  this  isolated  spot,  and 
watch  the  affairs  of  home,  (for  it  will  always  he  regarded 
hy  me  as  home,)  I  rejoice  to  see  the  works  of  her  sons, 
her  noble,  freeboni  sons,  and  I  would  never  have  them 
careless,  or  thoughtless  of  her  interests  and  principles. 
I  can  sympathise  with  every  true-hearted  brother;  my 
blood  bounds  with  enthusiasm,  when  I  think  what  our 
fathers  sufiered,  toiled  and  bled,  to  gain  freedom  for 
posterity.  I  do  not  speak  of  any  immediate  danger, 
yet  I  would  not  have  them  suppose  themselves  wholly 
secure  in  their  dreams  of  peace  and  self-enlightenment, 
honors  and  pleasure,  while  evils  are,  or  may  be  creep 
ing,  slowly,  yet  surely,  into  their  hearts  and  homes. 
'Tis  not  for  me  alone  to  cry  out  a  warning,  lest  they 
brand  me  with  the  mark  of  shame,  and  prove  that  I 
once  turned  away  and  followed  after  other  idols.  0  bit 
terly,  bitterly  I  have  lamented  the  evil  doing  of  those 
who  caused  me  to  become  as  an  alien  and  a  stranger  in 
my  own  country. 

"  I  am  aware  of  my  own  folly  and  guilt.     But  I  was 


284  A  L  T  H  A . 

young,  without  guide  or  home,  and  kindness  conquered 
my  half-matured  principles.  Much  more,"  said  he  ris 
ing,  "  might  be  said  upon  this  subject ;  but  a  word  to 
the  wise  is  sufficient." 

000000*00 

The  morning  sun  shone  brightly  in  at  the  little  win 
dow,  and  the  cooling  breeze  fanned  my  fevered  brow,  as 
I  awoke,  with  a  confusion  of  images  in  my  brain,  of 
the  previous  evening's  conversation,  and  the  train  of 
thought  it  had  suggested. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 


"  Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime, 
And  departing,  leave  behind  us 

Footsteps  on  the  sands  of  time  ! 

Footprints  that,  perhaps  another, 

Sailing  o'er  life's  solemn  main, 

A  forlorn  and  shipwrecked  brother, 

Seeing,  may  take  heart  again. " 

LONGFELLOW. 


AT  twilight  I  walked  with  Altha  around  the  grounds ; 
we  stopped  beneath  the  flowering  acacia,  within  the  en 
closure  of  the  little  church;  we  remained  for  a  time 
silent  and  thoughtful.  "  Altha,"  I  enquired,  taking  her 
hand  within  my  own,  "  have  you  not  already  discovered 
my  ill-concealed  affection  for  you  ?  will  you  go  with  me  ? 
will  you  he  my  "better  self,  always  cheering  me  in  the 
path  of  right,  and  nerving  me  in  the  path  of  duty  ?" 

She  turned  her  face  from  me  and  remained  silent 
several  seconds,  to  me  an  age.  When  she  looked  up 
scarcely  a  trace  of  emotion  was  upon  her  pale  cheek.  I 


286  ALTHA. 

was  almost  vexed,  she  appeared  so  calm  while  I  was 
trembling  with  excitement. 

"  Tell  me,  tell  me  Altha,  do  you  love  me  ?  " 

Her  eyes  were  full  of  confidence,  and  laying  her  hand 
upon  my  arm,  she  answered  "  Halvor,  you  need  not  be 
told  that  I  lore  you,  and  desire  to  insure  -your  happi 
ness.  Yet,  I  may  not  accept  the  blessed  privilege'  of 
sharing  your  home  and  making  you  happy." 

"Altha,  this  is  wretched;  what  mean  you?  do  you 
doubt  my  love  for  you  ?  " 

"  No,  not  for  a  moment ;  —  I  believe  our  souls  are 
united." 

I  held  her  hand  in  nine.  I  wondered  how  she  could 
be  so  calm. 

"Halvor,  we  should  be  wrapped  up  in  ourselves — 
we  should  forget  our  duties  ;  let  us  end  this  scene.  You 
have  important  affairs  to  attend  to ;  some  of  your  be 
loved  countrymen  have  appointed  you  to  a  position  of 
honor ;  they  expect  much  from  you ;  you  need  none  of 
my  assistance  in  the  way  of  duty ;  you  only  wish  my 
sympathy  and  you  will  have  it.  My  child  requires  all 
my  attention;  for  her  sake  I  give  it  to  her;  for  her 
father's  sake  I  would  not  forget  this  duty ;  yet  it  is  hard 


ALT  HA.  287 

to  refuse  this  great  happiness — this  greatest  of  earthly 
blessings." 

"  Altha,  Altha;  oh,  why  do  you  mock  me  —  why  do 
you  deal  out  agonies  every  moment,  worse  than  death?  " 

But  Altha  had  fainted ;  she  had  heen  tried  in  the 
furnace  of  affliction  ;  she  had  experienced  sorrow's 
sternest  discipline.  Her  heart  answered  —  "I  go  with 
thee :  thy  God  shall  he  my  God ;  thy  people  shall  he 
my  people."  Though  not  on  earth,  in  heaven  she  will 
fulfill  that  promise. 

I  must  say  I  was  anything  but  sensible  or  reason 
able  that  night.  I  met  Altha  the  next  morning  in  the 
breakfast-room,  looking  rather  hagard,  I  suppose,  as  I 
had  not  touched  my  pillow.  She  was  standing  at  the 
window ;  I  went  up  to  her  and  dropped  upon  an  ottoman 
near  her.  As  she  turned  toward  me,  I  covered  my  face 
with  my  hands. 

Said  she,  laying  her  hand  upon  my  arm,  "Halvor, 
Halvor,  where  is  your  fortitude  ?  you  see  I  am  calm." 

It  had  the  desired  effect,  and  I  went  through  the  cere 
mony  of  breakfast  very  well,  though  my  soul  did  wince 
a  little  occasionally.  I  gave  her  my  arm,  and  we  stroll 
ed  out,  the  better  to  familiarize  ourselves  with  the  pros- 


288  ALTHA. 

pect  of  a  separation.  We  lingered  near  the  acacia  flow 
ering  branches,  upon  the  spot  where  we  had  made  the 
revelation  of  our  love.  Every  scene,  every  animate  or 
inanimate  thing  seemed  full  of  life  and  happiness.  Her 
hand  rested  in  mine.  Father  Anselmo  came  from  the 
little  church  and  passed ;  before  we  were  aware  of  his 
presence,  he  had  saluted  us,  and  laying  his  hand  upon 
our  own,  repeated  — 

"  What  God  hath  joined  together  let  no  man  put  asun 
der.  I  know,"  he  added,  after  a  short  pause,  "  that 
you  have  both  loved  each  other  from  the  first  moment 
of  your  meeting.  My  sister's  peculiar  notions,  that  she 
ought  to  devote  herself  to  her  child " 

"  Brother,  I  think  I  must  abide  by  my  decision ; 
yet  if  Halvor  grows  weary  or  dispirited  at  his  labors, 
then  I  will  be  to  him  all  he  or  you  can  wish." 

I  strained  her  to  my  bosom,  and  and  giving  her  one 
long  wild  kiss,  in  which  we  might  have  exchanged  our 
souls,  I  gave  her  to  Father  Anselmo,  and  prepared  for 
instant  departure.  I  would  not  trust  myself  with  a 
longer  farewell.  Softly  I  passed  her  door  ;  it  opened ; 
—  there  stood  Altha.  I  sprung  forward,  and  she 
wound  her  arms  around  my  neck.  Her  features 
were  rigid  as  marble,  a  cold  dew  stood  upon  her 


ALTHA.  289 

forehead.  I  was  frightened ;  how  could  I  have  thought 
her  calm  and  calculating  !  "  Speak,  Altha  !  speak  but 
one  word ;  say  that  you  will  he  calm  ;  say  that  you 
will  wait  for  me,  and  I  will  endure  this  separation  for 
your  sake,  and  come  back." 

She  opened  her  eyes,  and  by  a  strong  effort  of  the 
will,  which  often  stood  her  in  times  of  need.  She  an 
swered,  "I will  wait"  . 

She  walked  with  me  a  few  steps,  when  the  last  kiss, 
the  last  "  God  bless  you "  was  spoken,  and  giving  her 
into  the  hands  of  her  waiting-woman,  I  sprang  down 
the  steps,  for  the  call  had  twice  sounded,  that  all  was 
ready. 

"  Halvor,  can  this  be  true  ?  " 

"  Only  too  true,  Ethan." 

"And  you  met  Mrs.  Marvin  upon  the  deck  of  the 
Great  Western  again,  for  the  first  time  since  that  part 
ing?" 

"  Even  so  ;  it  is  as  you  say,  Ethan." 

"  I  must  say  you  are  a"  perfect  bundle  of  eccentrici 
ties,  both  of  you.     Possible  that  you  remained  under 
this  roof  forty-eight  hours  and  never  spoke  of  your  sen 
timents  for  each  other  ?  " 
25 


290  ALTHA. 

"  Precisely ;  no  word  passed  between  us  except  under 
your  own  eyes.  I  intend  to  wait  patiently,  if  possible." 

"0  now,  I  comprehend  Altha's  improvisatore  last 
evening,  just  before  leaving  the  drawing-room.  She 
still  dooms  you  to  labor  for  the  benefit  of  your  people." 

Go  !   forget  not  I  am  with  you, 

Sharing  in  heart  thy  cross  and  chain  ; 

Spirits  know  their  kindred; 

For  frhee  I  sing  this  wild  refrain. 

Go  !  be  wary  and  be  steadfast, 

Bide  the  pit  and  flee  the  snare  ; 
COUNTRY,  FKIEND,  and  BROTHER, 

All  thy  love  and  trust  must  share. 

Go !  thy  watch-word  it  is  nothing ! 

Go  !  thy  banner  let  it  wave 
O'er  the  true  of  every  nation,  — 

Fear  no  tyrant,  own  no  slave  ! 

Thy  lamp  to  guide  a  Saviour's  love, 
And  cheer  thee  on  life's  toilsome  way  ; 

A  cloud  by  day,  by  night  a  fire, 
Pointing  to  heaven's  celestial  day. 

Said  'Squire  Eldridge,  "  It  is  vain  and  futile  to  specu 
late  upon  the  probable  future  of  two  such  eccentric  be 
ings,  who,  by  a  simple  element  of  the  will,  can  yield 
interest  and  happiness  for  the  benefit  of  kindred  or 
country.  I  suppose  it  is  another  one  of  the  lessons  of 
the  great  spirit  akin  to  Heaven." 


C II A  P  T  E  E     X  X  X  V . 

MR.  HAZEL  touched  the  boll ;  his  ring  was  answered 
by  Pat,  with  his  broad  shining  face,  full  of  enthusiasm 
and  obstinate  humor.  Said  Halvor,  handing  him  a 
bright  quarter,  "  Call  a  carnage  in  half  an  hour,  and 
see  my  baggage  properly  put  upon  it." 

"  Shure,  sir,  an'  I  '11  be  afther  doin'  that  same,  mis- 
ther,"  making  a  grand  flourish,  in  which  his  whole  per 
son  largely  participated. 

"  Patrick,"  called  Mr.  Hazel  as  the  Hibernian  started 
for  the  door,  "how  long  have  you  been  in  this  country?  " 

"  Ah  !  to  be  sure ;  just  three  years  and  a  day  next 
Easter,  yer  honor.  Bless  the  day  that  I  set  fut  in  it." 

"  You  like  it  then,  better  than  your  own  country  ?" 

"  Och,  by  the  powers,  there's  no  place  like  our  own 
swate  Ireland,  where  the  pure  water  and  the  green 
fields  makes  us  comely  and  hearty." 

"  Then,  why  did  n't  you  stay  there,  or  return 
" 


292  ALTHA. 

"  Ah,  to  be  sliure,  an'  its  me  that  loves  the  honest 
penny  I  get,  and  the  spot  o'  land,  and  the  bit  o'  larnin' 
for  the  childer.  Hurrah  !  hurrah  ! "  said  he,  "  for  the 
blue  flag  of  Ameriky !  May  the  Houly  Mother  bless  the 
"land  of  me  adoption  !"  and  having  relieved  himself  of 
this  piece'  of  enthusiasm,  he  made  his  exit. 

"Ethan,  what  need  ..of  a  farther  lesson?  Do  we  re 
quire  a  stronger  incentive  to  carry  on  the  good  work  in 
thousands  of  true  hearts  ?  Not  to  make  Pat  more  of  a 
machine  ;  not  to  suppress  the  energies  of  the  man,  by 
protecting  the  institutions  our  fathers  founded,  that  the 
light  of  our  happy  country  may  tievcr  shine  upon  the 
day  when  despotism,  with  giant  stride,  shall  stalk 
through  our  borders.  Happy  be  that  dawning  when 
the  plague-spot  of  a  nation's  weakness,  or  secret  sins, 
have  passed  and  are  forgotten. 


CHATTEB    XXXVI, 

"  Press  bravely  onward  !  not  in  vain 

Your  generous  trust  in  human  kind ; 
The  good  which  bloodshed  could  not  gain, 
Your  peaceful  zeal  shall  find." 

WHITTIER. 


A  DARK-EYED  man,  with  raven  locks  slightly  sprinkled 
with  silver,  and  twisted  in  careless  masses  ahove  his 
lofty  temples,  reins  up  his  splendid  hay  in  front  of  the 
sea-side  cottage,  and  throwing  the  "bridle  over  the  stone 
post,  enters  with  hasty  step  that  simple,  beautiful  par 
lor,  and  kneels  to  the  lady  of  the  house.  She  strokes 
hack  his  damp  locks  and  smiles,  breathing  words  of 
faith  and  hope,  pointing  to  a  bright  star  arising  in  the 
future,  faintly  shrouded  by  ignorance  and  wrong  Then 
the  chevalier,  rising,  forgets  the  passion  murmur  that 
swayed  his  soul  for  a  moment,  and  answers  with  holy 
worjls  and  eloquent  aspirations,  until  cheered  and 
strengthened  he  goes  forth  again  to  labor  and  to  wait. 

No  wonder  man  sinks  in  the  strife  and  turmoil  of 

life.    '  I  would,  that  like  Halvor,  all  might  have  as 
25* 


294  '  ALTHA. 

true  a  heavenly  and  earthly  friend.  He  has  forgot 
ten  his  weariness  and  weakness  as  he  goes  forth,  while 
she,  the  idol  of  his  soul,  our  gentle  Altha,  seeks  her 
closet,  and  prays  for  him,  and  that  no  idolatrous  love 
enter  her  heart,  to  change  her  purpose  of  a  quiet 
peaceful  life. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

THE  stars  look  down  upon  the  dusky  Park,  telling  to 
the  murmuring  fountain  their  hearts'  worship  in  radi 
ant  glances;  the  crystal  drops  leap  up  with  glad  joy 
at  the  oft-told  tale,  then  quickly  steal  away,  to  cherish 
the  dark  earth,  or,  linked  together  mirror  the  sleeping 
lake.  As  ever,  forms  are  hurrying  along  the  gravelled 
walks,  some  filled  with  love  and  happiness  and  the  dear 
image  of  home  and  friends.  Others  are  howed  down 
with  care  and  sorrow.  They  have  no  heart  to  look  up, 
no  soul  to  smile.  We  glance  at  such  sympathizingly, 

and  pass  on.     Would  they  could  hear  our  thoughts  as 

. 
we  look  back  after  them.     Take  courage,  friends  ;  we 

have  lived  a  day  of  sorrow !  the  dark  clouds  are  past ! 
we  are  happy !  Be  not  disheartened ;  you  may  smile 
again ;  only  keep  the  heart  pure,  and  remember  the 
Great  Spirit  forgets  only  those  who  forget  him. 

See  yonder  sculptured  marble  front,  and  -the  bur 
nished  silver  plate  upon  the  hall-door ;  there  Halvor's 


290  ALT  HA. 

father  dwells.  Let  us  enter.  A  family  group.  Annette 
is  home,  and  is  playing  a  game  of  chess  with  our 
favorite  lawyer,  Ethan.  Mrs.  Eldridge,  with  Annette's 
fond  husband,  and  Halvor  are  bending  over  some  new 
engravings  in  another  part  of  the  room.  The  piano  is 
hushed,  because  father  is  reading  the  papers  ;  he  lowers 
it  and  looking  over  the  top  of  his  gold-bowed  specks, 
exclaims : 

"  Ah  !  these  isms,  know-nothingism,  for  instance, 
I  wish  they  would  have  done  with  it,  as  a  perfect  1mm- 
bug.  Do  n't  you  think  so  ?  "  addressing  his  words  par 
ticularly  to  Ethan. 

"  I  do  n't  know,  sir,"  is  the  response. 

"  Father,"  said  Annette,  glancing  archly  at  the  law 
ycr.  "  How  do  you  know  but  he  is  one  of  them  ?  " 

"  Pshaw  !  not  him,  I  '11  be  bound ;  he  has  too  much 
sense." 

Ethan  having  finished  the  ga'hie  of  chess,  walked 
away  to  the  window,  where  he  is  joined  by  Halvor. 
Interpret  their  silent  language,  it  says :  "Be  not  dis 
couraged,  labor  and  wait ;  yes,  wait  to  see  if  in  vain  we 
have  given  our  time,  our  talents,  our  wealth,  our  friends, 
and  long  years  of  exile,  for  our  country's  good."  And 
Halvor's  dark  eye,  and  the  white  circle  around  the  mouth, 


ALTHA. 

betrayed  a  cloud  flitting  over  the  soul  as  he  thought  of 
Stella's  grave,  the  lessons  in  the  wilderness,  and  Altha, 
whom  he  styles  the  star  of  the  sea-side  cottage. 

O  0  O  0  0  0  0  0 

It  seems  but  a  dream  of  yesterday  that  we  stood  in 
that  dear  old  room,  in  the  stone  cottage  ;  the  rain  pat 
tered  upon  the  window  panes,  the  box  and  the  hemlock 
swayed  in  the  rushing  wind  from  off  the  foaming  water. 
We  were  not  alone.  Friend  William  and  his  loving 
wife,  Ethan  and  his  New  England  bride,  Altha  and 
Halvor,  and  the  splendid  Isabella ;  even  Mataka,  clad 
in  the  gala  dress  of  childhood,  was  there.  But  still  we 
wait,  and  chat,  and  watch  the  storm.  A  carriage  drives 
furiously  to  the  door.  The  recking  coachman,  in  oil 
cloth  coat  and  hat,  lets  down  the  steps,  two  men  spring 
out,  their  slouched  hats  pressed  hard  upon  their  fore 
heads,  one  wrapped  in  a  heavy  grey  shawl,  the  other,  in 
a  Spanish  cloak.  They  enter  the  hall  and  throw  hats 
cloak  and  shawl  at  the  wondering  attendant.  Who  are 
they  ?  The  parlor  door  opens,  Altha  is  clasped  in  the 
arms  of  a  brother ;  his  stone-grey  beard  contrasting  with 
her  wavy  brown  hair  as  he  bends  over  her.  Beside  the 
half-fainting  Isabella  kneels  a  haughty  Spaniard.  The 
loud  thunder's  roar  has  ceased ;  the  red  lightning  has 


298  .        ALT  II  A. 

leaped  his  sombre  cloud-car  and  rolled  away ;  the  sun 
sets  gloriously  in  the  west.  Again  the  door  opens,  a 
clergyman,  with  book,  and  long  black  robe,  enters ; 
Altha  chokes  down  the  rising  sob,  Halvor  walks  to  her 
side  ;  friend  William  earnestly  watches  the  pale  check. 
Is  she  going  to  lose  a  companion  or  gain  a  friend  ? 

Behind  Mataka's  golden  curls  Father  Anselmo's  eye 
and  lip  arc  shaded  ;  Senorita  Isabella  is  standing  side 
by  side  with  the  stranger,  with  joined  hands ;  Ethan  and 
his  bride  are  upon  each  side.  The  man  of  God  invokes 
a  blessing.  Listen :  — 

"  I  Don  Henri  Vespuci,  do  take  thce  Isabella  Venicia 
to  be  my  wedded  wife,  to  love  and  cherish  for  ever." 

Father  Anselnio  rises  ;  he  speaks  his  home  language 
With  years  and  wisdom  his  heart  has  not  grown  cold  — 
his  manliness  has  not  died  out.  "God  bless  you,  my 
children,"  he  murmurs  above  the  bride  and  bridegroom. 

O 

He  takes  Altha's  hand,  and,  joining  it  with  Halvor's, 
presses  them  between  his  own,  and  looks  up  to  heaven 
with  a  mute  appeal.  He  turns  to  Mataka ;  fondly 
again  and  again  he  kisses  the  wondering  child,  and 
strains  her  to  his  bosom.  He  turns  away,  and  in  that 


ALTHA.  299 

darkened  chamber,  in  prayer,  he  pours  out  his  yearning 
soul  to  the  Great  Spirit. 

The  last  parting  emhrace  is  given  ;  the  last  farewell 
word  has  "been  spoken  ;  Father  Anselmo  and  Don  Vcs- 
puci  with  his  bride,  are  seated  upon  the  deck  of  the 
Ocean  Bird,  that 

'  Walks  the  waters  like  a  thing  of  life," 

returning  to  their  golden  home.  Don  Juan  Venicia  is 
married  to  an  Anglo-Spanish  maiden,  and  they  are 
happy. 

Father  Anselmo,  with  his  numerous  clan  —  a  mixed 
people,  lives  to  do  good,  with  Isabella  and  her  husband 
to  preach  likewise.  "  They  that  trust  in  their  wealth, 
and  hoast  themselves  in  the  multitude  of  their  riches, 
none  of  them  can  by  any  means  redeem  his  hrother,  nor 
give  to  God  a  ransom  for  him  ! "  Donna  Isabella  and 
her  husband  share  with  Father  Anselmo  a  home. 

Deacon  Breck  defrauded  many,  and  was  long  since 
ejected  from  his  church,  and  died  among  the  Mormons 
of  the  West, 

Our  two  worthies  —  Ike  and  Mose,  —  Father  An 
selmo,  greatly  interested,  traced  them  to  New  York. 
Alas,  how  wretched!  Ike  was  lying  upon  one  of  the 


300  ALTHA. 

wharves,  tattered,  filthy  and  homeless,  the  fruit  of  his 
vagabond  life.  Mose  long  since  filled  an  unhonored 
grave. 

Our  early  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vale,  are  still  living, 
the  favorites  of  wealth  and  fashion. 

Generva,  Altha's  sister,  surrounded  by  her  children, 
is  covered  with  cares  and  honors. 

Counsellor  Eldridge,  in  his  office,  is~  still  watchful  and 
steadfast,  while  our  friend  William  is  quietly  doing 
good  in  the  beautif\il  city  of . 

But  our  dear  and  noble  Altha  and  Halvor  are  still 
doomed  to  LABOR  AND  WAIT. 

THE  END. 


LIST  OF  BOOKS 

PUBLISHED   BY 

JAMES  FRENCH  &  CO., 

78  Washington  Street,  Boston. 


SCHOOL  BOOKS. 

FOSTER'S  BOOK-KEEPING,  BY  DOUBLE  AND  SINGLE 

ENTRY,  both  in  single  and  copartnership  business,  exemplified  in 
three  sets  of  books.  Twelfth  Edition.  8vo.  Cloth,  extra.  .  1  00 

FOSTER'S  BOOK-KEEPING,  BY  SINGLE  ENTRY,  ex 
emplified  in  two  sets  of  books.    Boards 38 

FRENCH'S  SYSTEM  OF  PRACTICAL  PENMAN- 

SHIP,  founded  on  scientific  movements  ;  combining  the  principles 
on  which  the  method  of  teaching  is  based.  —  Illustrated  by  en 
graved  copies,  for  the  use  of  Teachers  and  Learners.  Twenty- 
seventh,  Edition 25 

This  little  treatise  seems  well  fitted  to  teach  everything  which 
can  be  taught  of  the  theory  of  Penmanship.  The  style  proposed 
is  very  simple.  The  copperplate  fac-similes  of  Mr.  French's 
writing  are  as  neat  as  anything  of  the  kind  we  ever  saw.  — 
Post. 

Mr.  French  has  illustrated  his  theory  with  some  of  the  most 
elegant  specimens  of  execution,  "which  prove  him  master  of  hie 
science. —  Courier. 

1 


JAMES  FRENCH  AND   CO.'S   PUBLICATIONS. 

This  work  is  of  a  useful  character,  evidently  illustrating  an  ex 
cellent  system.  We  have  already  spoken  of  it  in  terms  of  appro 
bation.  —  Journal. 

This  little  work  of  his  is  one  of  the  best  and  most  useful  publi 
cations  of  the  kind  that  we  have  seen.  —  Transcript. 

BEAUTIES  OF  WRITING,  containing  twenty  large 
specimens  of  Ornamental  Penmanship,  Pen  Drawing,  and  off-hand 
Flourishing 75 

BOSTON  COPY-BOOK  ;  comprising  nearly  two  hundred 
engraved  copies,  for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Academies.  .  .  42 

LADIES'  COPY-BOOK,  containing  many  beautiful  en 
graved  copies,  which  are  a  perfect  imitation  of  the  natural  hand 
writing  ;  also  including  German  Text  and  Old  English.  .  .  17 

BOSTON  ELEMENTARY  COPY-BOOK,  comprising 
large  and  small  Text  Hand,  for  Schools 12^ 

COOK'S  MERCANTILE  SYSTEM  OF  PENMAN 
SHIP.  Fourth  Revised  Edition 37$ 

THE  ART  of  PEN-DRAWING,  containing  examples 
of  the  usual  styles,  adorned  with  a  variety  of  Figures  and  Flour 
ishes,  executed  by  command  of  hand.  Also  a  variety  of  Orna 
mental  Penmanship .75 


MISCELLANEOUS  AND  JUVENILE. 

TURKEY  AND  THE  TURKS,  by  Dr.  J.  V.  C.  Smith, 
Mayor  of  Boston.     320  pages.     12mo.     Cloth 75 

It  is  a  most  excellent  work.  It  will  have  a  large  sale,  for  it 
embraces  more  real  information  about  real  Turks  and  their  strange 
peculiarities  than  anything  we  have  yet  read  — Post. 

2 


JAMES  FRENCH   &   CO.'S   PUBLICATIONS. 

RAMBLES  IN  EASTERN  ASIA,  including  China 
aud  Manilla,  during  several  years'  residence.  With  notes  of  the 
voyage  to  China,  excursions  in  Manilla,  Hong  Kong,  Shanghai, 
Ningpoo,  Amoy,  Fouehow  and  Macon,  by  Dr.  Ball.  One  hand 
some  vol.,  12mo.,  cloth, $1,25 

AMBITION:  by  Kate  Willis,  12mo.,  cloth,     .     .1,00 
CARRIE   EMERSON:   OR,  LIFE  AT   CLIFTONVILLE. 

By  C.  A.  Hayden.     1  handsome  vol.,  12rno.,  cloth,    .     .   $1,00 

KATE  STANTON:  a  Page  from  Real  Life.  12mo., 
cloth, $1,00 

DORA  GRAFTON:  OR,  EVERT  CLOUD  HAS  A  SIL 
VER  LINING.  Embellished  with  a  handsome  engraving.  12mo., 
cloth,  pp.  406.  Price,  $ 

SURE  ANCHOR,  By  Rev.  H.  P.  Andrews.  12mo., 
cloth, G2£ 

FOR  YOU  KNOW  WHOM:    OR,-  OUR  SCHOOL  AT 

PINEVILLE.    Illustrated.    By  Caroline  Ellen  Hartshorn.    18mo., 
cloth, 37i 

EQUAL   RIGHTS   OF  THE   RICH  AND  POOR. 

By  A.  H.  Hall.     18mo.,  cloth, 37£ 

EXILE'S   LAY,  and  other  Poems.      By  the   Border 

Minstrel.     ISrno.,  cloth,  gilt, 38 

STORIES    FOR    LITTLE    FOLKS    AT    HOME. 

By  Aunt  Martha.  Beautifully  Illustrated.   Cloth,  gilt,     .      40 

3 


JAMES  FRENCH  AND  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE  MASSACHUSETTS  STATE  RECORD,  for  the 

years  1847,  1848,  1849,  1850  and  1851  ;  one  of  the  most  valuable 
American  Statistical  Works.     5  vols.     12rno.     Cloth.   .     .     5  00 

THE  NEW  HAMPSHIRE   FESTIVAL.      A  graphic 

account  of  the  Assemblage  of  the  "  Sons  of  New  Hampshire  "  at 

Boston,  Hon.  Daniel  Webster  presiding.   Illustrated  with  portraits 

of  Webster,  Woodbury  and  Wilder.     8vo.     Cloth,  gilt.      .     200 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 3  00 

SECOND  FESTIVAL  of  the  "Sons  of  New  Hampshire." 
Illustrated  with  portraits  of  Webster,  Wilder,  Appleton  and  Chick- 
ering.  8vo.  Cloth,  gilt 2  00 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 3  00 

FESTIVAL.  2  vols.  in  one.  8vo.  Cloth,  gilt.  .  .  2  50 
ELEANOR  :  OR,  LIFE  WITHOUT  LOVE.  12mo.  Cloth.  75 
LIFE  IN  ENGLAND  AND  AMERICA.  Illustrated. 

12mo.     Cloth 75 

THE  VACATION  :  OR,  MRS.  STANLEY  AND  HER  CHIL 
DREN.  By  Mrs.  J.  Thayer.  Illustrated.  18mo.  Cloth.  Third 
Edition 50 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 75 

SUNSHINE  AND  SHADE :  OR,  THE  DENHAM  FAM 
ILY.    By  Sarah  Maria.     Fourth  Edition.     18mo.     Cloth.  .    37i 
THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges.     . 56 

THE   DREAM  FULFILLED:  OR,  THE  TRIALS  AND 

TRIUMPHS  OF  THE  MORELAND  FAMILY.     18mo.     Cloth.    .     .      42 
THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges.     Fifth  Edition 62£ 

THE    COOPER'S   SON :  OR,  THE  PRIZE  OF  VIRTUE. 

A  Tale  of  the  Revolution.    Written  for  the  Young.   18mo.   Cloth. 

Sixth  Edition.  (In  press.)  . 374 

HIE  '.SAME,  Gilt  Edges 56 

4 


JAMES  FRENCH  AND   CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE  SOCIABLE  STORY  TELLER.  Being  a  Selec 
tion  of  new  Anecdotes,  humorous  Tales,  amusing  Stories  and  Witti 
cisms  ;  calculated  to  entertain  and  enliven  the  Social  Circle.  Third 
Edition.  18mo.  Cloth 42 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 62£ 

TALMUDIC  MAXIMS.  Translated  from  the  Hebrew ; 
together  with  other  sayings,  compiled  from  various  authors.  By 
L.  S.  D 'Israel.  18mo.  Cloth 50 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 75 

LECTURES  TO  YOUTH.  Containing  instructions  pre 
paratory  to  their  entrance  upon  the  active  duties  of  life.  By  Rev. 
R.  F.  Lawrence.  18mo.  Cloth 50 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 75 

THE  SABBATH  MADE  FOR  MAN:  OR,  INSTITUTED 

BY  DIVINE  AUTHORITY.   By  Rev.  Dr.  Cornell.    18mo.   Cloth.  33J 
THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 50 

CONSUMPTION  FORESTALLED  AND  PRE 
VENTED.  By  W.  M.  Cornell,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  member  of  the 
Mass.  Medical  Society.  18mo.  Cloth.  Fourth  Edition.  .  37i 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges 56 

PASSION  AND  OTHER  TALES.  Bj  Mrs.  J.  Thayer, 
Author  of "  Floral  Gems,"  &c.  &c.  16mo.  Cloth.  .  .  .  62£ 

TURNOVER.     A  Tale  of  New  Hampshire.     Paper.      25 

THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  HEN  FEVER;  A  HUMOR 
OUS  RECORD.  By  Geo.  P.  Burnham.  With  twenty  Illustrations. 
12mo.  Cloth 125 

The  work  is  written  in  a  happy  but  ludicrous  style,  and  this 
reliable  history  of  the  fowl  mania  in  America,  will  create  an  im 
mense  sensation.  —  Courier. 

5 


JAMES  I1ENCH  AND   CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

NEW  MINIATURE  VOLUMES. 
THE  ART  OF  CONVERSING.     Written  for  the  in- 

struction  of  Youth  in  the  polite  manners  and  language  of  the 
drawing-room,  by  a  Society  of  Gentlemen  ;  with  an  illustrative 

title.     Fourteenth  Edition.     Gilt  Edges 37i 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 50 

.FLORAL  GEMS  :  OR,  THE  SONGS  OF  THE  FLOWERS. 

By  Mrs.  J.  Thayer.     Thirteenth  Edition,  with  a  beautiful  frontis 
piece.     Gilt  Edges.        . 37i 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 50 

THE  AMETHYST  :  OR,  POETICAL  GEMS.     A  Gift  Book 

for  all  seasons.     Illustrated.     Gilt  Edges .  37£ 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 40 

ZION.     With  Illustrative  Title.   By  Rev.  Mr.  Taylor.    42 
THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 50 

THE  TRIUNE.     With  Illustrative  Title.     By  Rev.  Mr. 
'  Taylor 37i 

TRIAD.     With  Illustrative  Title.     By  Rev.  Timothy  A. 
Taylor 37£ 

TWO  MOTTOES. '  By  Rev.  T.  A.  Taylor.     .    .    .    374 

SOLACE.     By  Rev.  T.  A.  Taylor 37£ 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 50 

SONNETS.     By  Edward  Moxon ,.     .    31| 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides -  ...      50 

GRAY'S  ELEGY,  AND  OTHER  POEMS.     The  Poetical 

Works  of  Thomas  Gray.     ' '  Poetry  —  Poetry ;  —  Gray — Gray  !  ' ' 
[Daniel  Webster,  the  night  before  his  death,  Oct.  24,  1852.]  .     31 

THE  SAME,  Gilt  Edges  and  Sides 50 

6 


JAMES  FRENCH  AND  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  following  Writing  Books  are  offered  on  Liberal  Terms. 
FRENCH'S    NEW    WRITING    BOOK,   with   a  fine 

engraved  copy  on  each  page.     Just  published,  in  Four  Numbers, 

on  a  highly-improved  plan. 

No.  1  Contains  the  First  Principles,  &c 10 

No.  2  A  fine  Copy  Hand 10 

No.  3  A  bold  Business  Hand  "Writing 10 

No.  4  Beautiful  Epistolary  Writing  for  the  Lady 10 

James  French  &  Co.,  No.  78  "Washington  street,  have  just  pub 
lished  a  new  series  of  Writing  Books  for  the  use  of  Schools  and 
Academies.  They  are  arranged  upon  a  new  and  improved  plan, 
with  a  copy  on  each  page,  and  ample  instructions  for  learners. 
We  commend  them  to  the  attention  of  teachers  and  parents.  — 
Transcript. 

They  commence  with  those  simple  forms  which  the  learner  needs 
firsflo  make,  and  they  conduct  him,  by  natural  and  appropriate 
steps,  to  those  styles  of  the  art  which  indicate  the  chirography 
not  only  of  the  finished  penman,  but  which  are  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  those  who  wish  to  become  accomplished  accountants.  — 
Courier. 

A  new  and  original  system  of  Writing  Books,  which  cannot  fail 
to  meet  with  favor.  They  consist  of  a  series,  and  at  the  top  of 
each  page  is  a  finely-executed  copy.  We  cordially  recommend  the 
work.  —  Bee. 

It  is  easily  acquired,  practical  and  beautiful. — Filcliburg  Sentinel, 

We  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  them  superior  to  anything 
of  the  kind  ever  issued.  —  Star  Spanyled  Banner. 

FRENCH'S    PRACTICAL    WRITING    BOOK,    for 

the  use  of  Schools  and  Academies  ;  in  Three  Numbers,  with  a 
copy  for  each  page. 

No.  1,  Commencing  with  the  First  Principles 10 

No.  2,  Running-hand  copies  for  Business  Purposes 10 

\o.  3,  Very  fine  copies,  together  with  German  Text  and  Old  Eng 
lish 10 

7 


JAMES  FRENCH   AND   CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

NEW  BOOKS  IN  PRESS, 

TO    BE     ISSUED    THIS    MONTH. 

BOSTON   COMMON;  A  TALE  OF  OUR  OWN  TIMES. 

12mo.     556  pages.     Price, $1.25 

This  work  is  universally  regarded  as  combining  beauty  and 

strength  and  practical  value,  to  a  degree  rarely  if  ever  equalled  by 

an  American  author. 
It  promises  to  have  an  immense  sale. 

ALTHA ;  OR,  SHELLS  FROM  THE  STRAND.    By  Mrs.  Ada 

M.  Field.     12mo.     Cloth,  price, "...     §1 

"  There  is  a  spirit  in  man,  and  the  inspiration  of  the  Almighty 
giveth  understanding." 

This  new  work  is  written  in  a  style  different  from  most  of  the 
present  literature.  Happily  showing  the  spirit  of  the  times,  it 
abounds  in  religion  and  patriotism,  showing  in  its  sudden  out 
bursts  of  sentiment  and  affection  the  beauty  of  the  inner  life, 
the  wealth  of  happiness  wedded  to  duty. 

RAISING  THE  VEIL;   OR,  SCENES  IN  THE  COURTS. 

12mo.     Cloth,  price, $1 

This  work  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the  most  unique  and 
curious  volumes  that  has  been  published  for  many  years.  Its 
oddity  of  style,  the  peculiar  ideas  of  the  author,  the  singular 
anecdotes  which  he  introduces,  which  are  of  themselves  amusing, 
while  thoy  serve  to  instruct, —  all  combined,  are  sufficient  to  make 
it  one  of  the  most  readable  books  of  the  present  day.  In  it  will 
be  found  portraits  of  well-known  court  officers,  &c.,  together  with 
a  full  expose  of  the  Stool  Pigeon  Business  as  it  has  been  carried 
out  in  the  different  cities  of  the  Union. 

SENTIMENTS   ON  SOCIAL  LIFE.     32mo. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9-Series  4939 


PS1664.       F453A 


